Under Quaker Appointment: The Life of Jane P. Rushmore [Reprint 2016 ed.] 9781512803242

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. . . quaeque ipse .. . vidi, et quorum pars magna fui. Aeneid, Book II

UNDER QUAKER APPOINTMENT T h e Life of

By Emily Cooper Johnson

Philadelphia

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA 1953

Copyright

1953

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS

Manufactured

in the United

States of

America

L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s C a t a l o g C a r d N u m b e r : 53-10517

P u b l i s h e d in G r e a t B r i t a i n , I n d i a , a n d P a k i s t a n by GEOFFREY CUMBERLEGE: Oxford

University

London, B o m b a y , and K a r a c h i

Press

Foreword The subtitle of this book might well have been, in oldfashioned language, The Life and Times of Jatte P. Rushmore, f o r Emily Cooper Johnson has made amply clear the intimate connection between Jane Rushmore and that segment of society in which she lived. Jane Rushmore was born a Hicksite Quaker at a time when Hicksite and Orthodox viewed one another with suspicion and distrust. She has dwelt within the area of the Philadelphia Y e a r l y Meeting (Race Street). She has worked f o r the Hicksite branch of the Society. And she has lived to see the healing of the great schism within American Quakerism, having contributed herself to the reunion of the two branches. J a n e Rushmore's history is in no small part the history of Hicksite Quakerism in the last eighty years. T h e outstanding American Quaker in the first half of the present century was R u f u s Jones. T o bracket him with J a n e Rushmore might seem to yoke together an unmatched team. Nevertheless, they have been the two most influential Friends in this country in recent memory, and they belong together. T h e i r differences are obvious. R u f u s J o n e s belonged to the Orthodox side of Quakerism. H e was a scholar of international renown, known f o r his studies of mysticism and f o r his contribution to the history of Quakerism. H e was a leader among Friends, widely known and sought outside the Society, the prime mover and guiding spirit f o r many years of the American Friends Service Committee. J a n e Rushmore was little known outside the Society of Friends. She served as secretary and clerk rather than chairman of the major Quaker ν

FOREWORD

m o v e m e n t s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s . R u f u s J o n e s w a s a public figure; J a n e R u s h m o r e w o r k e d q u i e t l y behind the scenes. A n d y e t these t w o Q u a k e r s , w a r m f r i e n d s f o r y e a r s , a r e s t r i k i n g l y s i m i l a r in m a n y respects. B o t h w e r e prim a r i l y t e a c h e r s . B o t h w e r e i n t e r p r e t e r s of the spirit of Q u a k e r i s m . Both w r o t e e x t e n s i v e l y . B o t h g a v e their lives to the Society of F r i e n d s . Both h a d g r e a t p r a c t i c a l w i s d o m . B o t h spoke w i t h h o m e l y w i t and p e n e t r a t i n g w i s d o m . W h e n e i t h e r spoke, the audience g a v e t h e m a r a p t a t t e n t i o n a c c o r d e d no o t h e r F r i e n d of recent y e a r s . B o t h w e r e m o v e d by a vision of m a n k i n d which e n a b l e d t h e m to t r a n s c e n d the d i v i s i v e n e s s of the g r o u p into which they w e r e born a n d to contribute m i g h t i l y to the unification of the Society of F r i e n d s . E m i l y C o o p e r J o h n s o n h a s w r i t t e n the b i o g r a p h y of a g r e a t h u m a n being, a n d in the process she h a s cont r i b u t e d a n o t h e r c h a p t e r to the h i s t o r y of Q u a k e r i s m . JOHN W .

vi

NASON

Acknowledgmen ts Although the preponderant body of material in this book comes from J a n e Rushmore herself, additional information and certain critical estimates have been supplied by other persons. Cordial acknowledgment of this help is made to E d w a r d W . Evans, Thomas A . and Eliza Ambler Foulke, Anna Stubbs G r o f f , Ellen Pyle Groff, Anna B. Hewitt, Edith W . Jackson, Arthur H . Jenkins, E d w a r d C. Jenkins, M a r i e C. Jenkins, the late H o w a r d Cooper Johnson, Alice L . Miller, J a m e s A . Norton, Sarah W . Passmore, Alexander C. Purdy, the late Robert Pyle, H o w a r d G. T a y l o r , Charles N . Thompson, E m m a B . Wallace, George A . Walton, and Clarence A . Wesp. F o r permission to quote f r o m letters I am also grateful to the late Charles F . Jenkins, John W . Nason, Katharine H . Paton, J . Roland Pennock, and John H . W o o d . In the preparation of Chapters V and V I the staff of Friends General Conference was most helpful. A t all times the facilities of Friends Central Bureau were generously made available through the kindness of its entire staff. In addition I am especially indebted f o r critical reading of all or parts of the manuscript to Hannah Clothier Hull, Marguerite Hallowell, J . Barnard Walton, Sarah F . Splint, J . E d g a r and Edith Chambers Rhoads, and William Hubben; f o r help in publication to Richmond P. M i l l e r and Henrietta S. Jaquette; and f o r great assistance in the preparation of the manuscript to Lois Comings B e r t h o l f , Helen Griffith, and M i r i a m M . H . Thrall. vii

E. C. J.

Contents PAGE FOREWORD BY J O H N V Y . N A S O N

Ν

INTRODUCTION

XI

CHAPTER I II

A Q U A K E R H O U S E H O L D IN T H E S E V E N T I E S

I

SHARPENING THE TOOLS

15

III

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

31

IV

SOCIAL P L E A S U R E S SCIENCE

V

SEVEN

YEARLY

AND

A

SOCIAL

49

MEETINGS

AT

GETHER VI VII

CON-

WORK

TO67

B I E N N I A L PILGRIMAGE

91

A T THE H U B

107

VIII

A S A REASONABLE SERVICE

127

IX

FROM T H E C L E R K ' S T A B L E

149

UNDER WEIGHTY APPOINTMENT

159

CRUMBLING W A L L S

175

T H E ACTIVE EIGHTIES

193

X XI XII

ix

Illustrations FACING PAGE J A N E P. RUSHMORE RACE STREET JANE

(about

MEETING

1900)

HOUSE

P. RUSHMORE, L I T T . D . ,

Χ

1952

44 IIO 196

Introduction T h e divided existence of the two Philadelphia Y e a r l y Meetings of Friends will probably approximate a century and a quarter by the time the Separation of 1 8 2 7 has ended and Race Street and Arch Street have become again one Y e a r l y Meeting. Of the period during which American Quakerism has been divided into " H i c k s i t e " and " O r t h o d o x " branches, J a n e P . Rushmore's life covers nearly three-quarters, and her active participation in the affairs of her Meeting more than half. I t is the half, moreover, about which little is as yet written. Much has been analyzed and explained concerning the Separation; f a r less has been said of the enterprises which each group developed, and of the first gropings toward renewed intercourse which are now culminating in organic union. J a n e Rushmore was a very young woman when she came to teach in a rural Quaker neighborhood in Pennsylvania, a neighborhood typical of a large proportion of the Hicksite communities, and she spent the major part of her working life at the hub of Race Street Y e a r l y Meeting's organized activity as secretary of Friends Central Bureau. H e r whole experience lay in the Hicksite fold. She learned its deep concerns, watched its development, often laid a guiding hand upon its growth. She saw that the Hicksite branch was no mere splintering to be either dried up and shucked off or ultimately g r a f t e d back on the main stem of Quakerism with the unfortunate divagation graciously overlooked. R a t h e r the Hicksites were, certainly in their own estimation, throughout this era upholders of an essential part of the Society of Friends' original testimony, whose purity they carefully guarded. T h e y be-

xi

INTRODUCTION

l i e v e d t h a t in accepting, as all F r i e n d s do, the c o n t i n u i n g r e v e l a t i o n of G o d to m a n , t h e y m u s t p r e s e r v e the f r e e d o m of each i n d i v i d u a l to i n t e r p r e t the S c r i p t u r e s a n d h o l d w h a t seems true to him. H u m a n beings, t h e y felt, w i l l not a l w a y s t r a n s l a t e the Voice of G o d into the s a m e w o r d s . L i b e r t y m u s t be accorded to t h o s e w h o s e p e r c e p t i o n of t r u t h m a y differ f r o m t h a t of the m a j o r i t y . A l l honest search must be respected. I t w a s this passion f o r l i b e r t y of i n t e r p r e t a t i o n which held t h e m a p a r t f r o m the w a v e of the e v a n g e l i c a l m o v e m e n t then s p r e a d i n g o v e r the count r y . It w a s this t h a t m a d e t h e m l a r g e l y indifferent to d o c t r i n a l p r o n o u n c e m e n t s a n d u l t i m a t e l y p l a c e d t h e m in the g r o u p of " l i b e r a l " d e n o m i n a t i o n s . T h e dignified j e a l o u s i e s , the cool i g n o r i n g s , the c a r e f u l w i t h d r a w a l s of an e a r l i e r g e n e r a t i o n f r o m contacts w i t h " t h e o t h e r b r a n c h " a r e only a m u s i n g now, a n d a caution to us w h o m a y be t e m p t e d into s i m i l a r f a u l t s . B u t t h e y , too, w e r e a p a r t of the Q u a k e r l i f e J a n e R u s h m o r e experienced and understood. She has, h o w e v e r , m o r e t h a n r e m e m b e r e d in w i d e extent a n d w i t h r e m a r k a b l e a c c u r a c y a l o n g flight of H i c k site y e a r s . She sees t h a t they w e r e a significant a n d expanding era. Important movements occurred inducing new l i f e and a w i d e n e d conception of u s e f u l n e s s f o r t h i s g r o u p of F r i e n d s . T h e e m e r g i n g i d e a s a n d u n d e r t a k i n g s m a d e t h e i r m a r k upon all those w h o w a t c h e d them w i t h e a g e r interest or p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h e m in even m i n o r w a y s . T h e i r influence w a s especially a p p r e c i a b l e on J a n e R u s h m o r e , herself a p o w e r in m a n y of them, m e r e l y an onl o o k e r in a f e w , but a l w a y s a w a r e of a n d a p p r a i s i n g t h e i r g r o w t h . A m o n g t h e m w e r e the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of G e o r g e School, the rise of the Buck H i l l F a l l s Q u a k e r s e t t l e m e n t , the evolution of F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e , the i n c r e a s e

xii

INTRODUCTION

in the n u m b e r and effectiveness of w o r k i n g committees in the P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , the widening reach of the Friends Intelligencer, and, especially, the development of new u n d e r s t a n d i n g a m o n g all branches of F r i e n d s t h r o u g h the agencies of the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s Service C o m m i t t e e , the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s Fellowship Council, the W o r l d C o m m i t t e e f o r Consultation, the Y o u n g F r i e n d s M o v e m e n t , local united M e e t i n g s , joint Y e a r l y M e e t i n g c o m m i t t e e s in m a n y of the m a j o r fields of w o r k , and the e s t a b l i s h m e n t in Philadelphia of the G e n e r a l M e e t i n g . W h e t h e r or n o t J a n e R u s h m o r e has been integ r a l to these activities, she has observed t h e m with a degree of d e t a c h m e n t t h a t has m a d e h e r able to distinguish the s t r u c t u r a l f r o m the incidental lines, to see the l o n g direction of a sometimes w a n d e r i n g t r a c k . She flatly r e f u s e d , h o w e v e r , to u n d e r t a k e the w r i t i n g of the n a r r a t i v e h e r s e l f . T h e only solution seemed to be to introduce a s o r t of amanuensis to w h o m she was willing to talk. So each week f o r most of a long s u m m e r the scribe w o u l d p r e s e n t herself at the d o o r of t h e little white house a d j o i n i n g the m e e t i n g house lawn at R i v e r t o n , Ν . J . W i t h E m m a W a l l a c e ' s w a r m smile, t h e r e also p r e s s e d the e x u b e r a n t welcome of Vickie, b a r k i n g t h r o u g h h e r l o n g black h a i r . A s J a n e a p p r o a c h e d , a g r a y s t r e a k w o u l d s h o o t f r o m b e h i n d h e r and slither, a p p a r e n t l y witho u t legs, up the stairs. T h e i r cat does n o t like company. I n t h e s o u t h half of t h e living r o o m J a n e would settle into a c o r n e r chair f r o m which she could look o u t d o o r s in two directions. A s the s u m m e r opened, roses climbed in l u x u r i a n t b l o o m o v e r trellises, iris and poppies flamed in t h e flower beds. Bird books a r e always within J a n e ' s r e a c h if a n e w visitor should join the f a m i l i a r s of the stone t e r r a c e . H e r books of p o e t r y are opposite t o h e r ; xiii

INTRODUCTION

nearer at hand is the newest crossword puzzle thumbtacked to a breadboard. F r o m the wall looking down upon her crowded desk are the Dutch great-grandmother, the g r a n d f a t h e r of flavorsome personality, the greatly cherished Aunt M a r y , and Deborah F. Stubbs, whose home was home to Jane for fourteen years. J a n e had to be persuaded to have any p a r t whatever in this undertaking. It was against her judgment. In the end she agreed to help, saying: " I seem to be a kind of maypole around which the streamers of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting are to be wound, pretty much covering up the pole."

XIV

CHAPTER I

A Quaker Household in the Seventies In the f a r m i n g country thirty miles southwest of Albany, Ν . Y., J o h n Underhill Rushmore and his wife, Sarah D r a k e Rushmore, were bringing up their family. T h e i r white clapboard house stood by the road between Preston H o l l o w and Cooksburg in the southernmost corner of Albany County. Actually the family considered that they lived in Preston Hollow, although they were about halfway between the two villages, scarcely more than a mile apart. T h e fields rose steeply behind the modest L-shaped dwelling, and the Catskill Creek flowed beside it. T o see the beautiful wall of the Catskill Mountains rising to the south one might either climb certain of the sharp hills on J o h n Rushmore's ninety acres, or go to his father-in-law's, Israel Drake's, beyond the neighboring village of P o t t e r Hollow, where a fine panorama opened directly f r o m the f r o n t door. T h e Rushmore house, cosily planted between the road, the creek, and a hill, scanned the neighbors as they passed on their way among the three tiny hamlets whose greatest distance of separation was less than four miles. T h e little group of villages was isolated in a sense that would be unknown anywhere in the United States now. Seven miles an hour was fast travel for a horse in hilly country, and twenty miles a day about the limit of his journey. W i t h the nearest train at Cairo, twelve miles off, the usual means of transportation had to be the stagecoaches, whose drivers entertained their passengers with stories of more or less accuracy, largely to impress city arrivals. Telephones, radio, electrically driven domestic machinery I

UNDER Q U A K E R

APPOINTMENT

w e r e u n d r e a m e d o f . T h e mail came in by stage e v e r y other day to C o o k s b u r g . F o r their newspaper the Rushm o r e s r e a d the New York Semi-fVeekly Times. I t h a d not occurred to the children in the f a m i l y to think of themselves as remote f r o m the w o r l d or in any w a y lonely. T o begin with, there w e r e five of them. T h e middle child, J a n e P a l e n , n a m e d f o r her g r a n d m o t h e r , w a s the first girl. She had been born on J a n u a r y 28, 1 8 6 4 . H e r o l d e r b r o t h e r s w e r e C h a r l e s and E d w a r d , and a f t e r her came t w o sisters, M a r y and A n n a . A l l of them had plenty of ideas. T h e y had to invent their own g a m e s and m a k e their own playthings, a g r e a t stimulus to originality. It w a s a laborious job to construct a cart, but a w o n d e r f u l s a t i s f a c t i o n when it w a s finished. R e m e m b e r i n g the excitement of spring floods in their creek, they reproduced its t e r r o r s by routing w a t e r f r o m their little pails on to houses m a d e of corncobs which w e r e gloriously w a s h e d d o w n s t r e a m . L i k e children today they liked trains, but their coaches w e r e split pumpkins, running not on electricity but on boy p o w e r . Influenced by stories of the still recent Civil W a r , the children w a g e d mighty battles in the sand lot w h e r e w i l l o w sticks could be recruited in as l a r g e armies as desired. Pebbles of different sizes w e r e collected into ammunition dumps of shot, balls, and shells and hurled at the f o e with the g r e a t e s t abandon. W h e n it w a s necessary to t r a n s p o r t troops elsewhere the trains w e r e r e a d y f o r l o a d i n g the soldiers, w h o stood straight and close in the s o f t fiber of the pumpkins. S o m e bright schemes did not find f a v o r with the parents. Shooting a r r o w s f r o m the upper d o o r of the h a y l o f t at c a r r i a g e s bearing M e t h o d i s t neighbors to Sunday a f t e r noon service, and then ducking out of sight of the baffled victims, w a s met with rebuke that m a d e the children f e e l 2

A Q U A K E R H O U S E H O L D IN T H E S E V E N T I E S

they had committed a very wicked act. T h e y enthusiastically attended revival meetings in a nearby church until their elders discovered that their purpose was to learn how to mimic and ridicule in their own play at home the emotional scenes. But if these games were frowned on, there was plenty o f imagination to invent new and better ones. And besides such lively entertainment as the children could always work up f o r themselves, various community events, in which the R u s h m o r e family had full , share, gave a little extra excitement. F o r instance, every ' fall a f t e r the harvest was in, a big f a r m e r s ' picnic brought a great crowd t o g e t h e r near Rensselaerville. A brass , band, speeches, quantities o f food, made the date a special event o f first magnitude. T h e children loved it. J a n e t o o k a g o o d deal o f responsibility in caring f o r the little girls, but she wanted to play with her b r o t h e r s . T h e y said they wouldn't have a ' f r a i d cat with them, so they made up a test o f valor. J a n e must run without flinching across the high beam above the partly filled hayl o f t . T h o u g h terribly frightened, she did it and won her accolade. T h e boys accepted her. Unconsciously they taught her m o r e than physical prowess and agility. O n one occasion they raced up a ladder leaning against the side o f the house and climbed on the r o o f . J a n e started to follow. M i d w a y she saw the ground f a r below, was suddenly scared, and called f o r help. H e r b r o t h e r shouted to her, " O f course you'll fall if you look at your feet. L o o k u p ! " T h a t admonition she remembered gratefully all her life. T h e open hospitality o f the R u s h m o r e home was well known and b r o u g h t visitors f r o m f a r and near. T h e y were usually Friends. T h e r e was still a g r e a t deal o f itinerant religions service freely undertaken by those men

3

UNDER Q U A K E R

APPOINTMENT

a n d w o m e n w h o f e l t called on to m a k e the journeys. It w a s spoken of as " t r a v e l i n g in the m i n i s t r y . " S m a l l and s c a t t e r e d g r o u p s of Q u a k e r s w e r e in l a r g e measure enc o u r a g e d to uphold their f a i t h by these d e v o t e d souls w h o h a d " f e l t a concern to t r a v e l in G o s p e l l o v e " to more or less distant p a r t s . T h e concern w o u l d h a v e been laid b e f o r e the home M e e t i n g of the F r i e n d w h o f e l t it; then, if a p p r o v e d , it w a s o f t e n supported by a superior M e e t ing and the person w a s released to do his or her best. T h e practice, of course, dates f r o m the v e r y beginnings of Q u a k e r i s m and is f o l l o w e d occasionally to the present d a y . In the middle of the past century it w a s v e r y common. W h e n the welcome t r a v e l e r s came to Preston H o l l o w they a l w a y s stayed at the R u s h m o r e home. T h e tiny meeting house w a s situated in P o t t e r H o l l o w , between the R u s h m o r e s and the D r a k e s . Its official name w a s the R e n s s e l a e r v i l l e M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , and by the 1 8 7 0 ' s it had become v e r y small. T h e f e w F r i e n d s still in the n e i g h b o r h o o d expected it to die, and accordingly b e f o r e the end of the century it did. In its f o l d , h o w e v e r , during J a n e ' s childhood was one strong figure, that of her g r a n d f a t h e r , I s r a e l D r a k e , a minister of v i g o r and ability. B u t t r e s s e d with a minute f r o m his M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , he u n d e r t o o k long journeys, sometimes f o r three months, with his horse and carriage, visiting F r i e n d s as f a r a w a y as P e n n s y l v a n i a and V i r g i n i a . Some of his stay-at-home neighbors considered that he neglected his f a r m i n g to g o to M e e t i n g s , but, his grandd a u g h t e r r e m a r k s , he p r o s p e r e d better than his brother w h o did nothing but w o r k . H i s w a n d e r i n g s , m o r e o v e r , never caused him to neglect his community when he was at home. W i t h no hospital in the a r e a , I s r a e l D r a k e took a man ill with s m a l l p o x and deserted by everyone else 4

A Q U A K E R H O U S E H O L D IN T H E S E V E N T I E S

into his own barn and nursed him, happily without any spread of the disease to the family. A s a g o o d preacher and a liberal thinker, he was often called to attend funerals of those who were members of no church. Once when he was asked if he would speak at such an occasion he replied, " I t must be understood that I am not e n g a g e d to preach, but I a g r e e to a t t e n d , " * thus emphasizing his Q u a k e r trust in the immediate leading of G o d f o r the need of the hour, be that need audible w o r d or silent prayer. Israel D r a k e h a d been an ardent abolitionist, and during the days of slave labor in the South would eat no cane sugar, but only maple. H i s f a r m had been a northern outpost of the U n d e r g r o u n d R a i l r o a d . Such fugitives as came by this rather unfrequented route were helped on the last lap of their journey to C a n a d a . W h e n the Civil W a r was over, he maintained his interest in the newly liberated men. N o t many of them had arrived to settle in the vicinity in J a n e ' s childhood. She remembers the first colored man she saw. She w a s about five years old when she w a s with her g r a n d f a t h e r in H u d s o n and, meeting a dark-skinned passer-by, asked what was the m a t t e r with that man's f a c e . T h e r e w a s no objection to the color in the mind of I s r a e l ' s grandchild, it was merely a surprising fact to be accepted. In a somewhat later summer a N e g r o w a s employed to help with the harvesting on the D r a k e f a r m . T h e other hands would work in the fields with the newcomer, but r e f u s e d to eat with him. T h e r e upon I s r a e l D r a k e carried his own dinner to the outside kitchen and ate with the colored man, and J a n e did the same. H e r g r a n d f a t h e r , greatly pleased, considered this * This incident is also related in Irvin C. and Ruth V. Poley, Friendly (New York, 1950), p. 35.

5

Anecdotes

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APPOINTMENT

a sign of grace. H e w a s mistaken. J a n e cultivated the friendship of this w o r k e r because he let her ride home on the h a y l o a d . T h e s e grandparents, living only a couple of miles from the Rushmores, were a l w a y s an intimate p a r t of the life of the g r o w i n g family. T h e y were the only g r a n d p a r e n t s the children knew, as John Rushmore's f a t h e r and mother had both died e a r l y . But the Drakes' w a s a f a m i l i a r home where the strong personality of Israel made a deep impression on the youngsters. H i s wife, J a n e Palen D r a k e , had other ideas f o r her namesake than riding the hay w a g o n or romping with the boys. T h e elder J a n e came of a rather more aristocratic strain than the Drakes. H e r parents had sailed to America f r o m H o l l a n d ; she was well educated for her time, reserved, fine looking, holding her head a little high. H e r f a m i l y felt that she had m a r r i e d somewhat beneath her, and her husband w a s a bit deferential to her. She a l w a y s accompanied him on his journeys, near or f a r . A t home she w a s benevolent to her neighbors, but did not g r e a t l y mingle with them socially. She sought to train her g r a n d d a u g h t e r in the ladylike accomplishments she valued, especially fine needlework, at which she w a s expert. Samplers she considered too g a y . She herself had e m b a r k e d on a long undertaking of embroidering in silk floss on a silk base a m a p of the two hemispheres. T h i s she felt had an educational purpose, especially as the place n a m e s were carefully entered. But she failed to interest little J a n e , who r e g a r d e d this as a regrettable use of g e o g r a p h y and a waste of time. She did not succeed in m a k i n g the child into a needlewoman. T h e interest in education, however, ran in strong current straight down the generations. T h e senior J a n e ' s

6

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daughter, Sarah Palen Drake, and her sister M a r y had been sent a long distance from home to obtain better schooling than the immediate locality could provide. If Jane Drake was determined that Sarah and M a r y should have a good education, Israel was equally insistent that they should go to a Friends' school and be among Friends. The suitable combination was found with John and Rachel Jackson, who conducted a private school for girls, the Sharon Female Seminary, near Darby, Pa. Perhaps Israel Drake had visited it in his travels. In any case, John Jackson was a well-known minister who traveled widely, a strong follower of Elias Hicks, and therefore known to the Drakes. The school which he and Rachel operated was one of the older ones for girls. There Sarah formed many associations with Friends in the general area of Philadelphia, the most intimate of which was with Hannah Griscom of Woodbury, N. J., who later married Charles M a r o t . A f t e r Sarah finished at the Jackson school (one was not "graduated" from a Friends' school in those days) it was therefore natural for her parents to approve of her accepting an appointment to teach at the Woodbury Friends School, boarding with the Griscom family. She returned to Potter Hollow to marry John Rushmore in 1859· Like his father-in-law, John Rushmore was a man of strong personality and independent ideas. H e was a Republican in a community of Democrats. In a day when use of the "plain language" was still a powerful tradition among Friends even if no longer an actual principle, John refused to use it, saying that it was not plain. By this he meant that terms like "Fourth-day" and "Eighth month" were not quickly understood. Nor did he see any value in wearing "plain" clothes, and never adopted them. He was 7

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very stiff in some ways, and his absolute probity w a s well established. A strong believer in local option and holder of the office of excise commissioner, he w a s open to no b a r g a i n i n g in the m a t t e r of enforcing the l a w . But when the tavern keeper's baby w a s sick and needed milk f r o m an assuredly healthy cow, the man came to J o h n . T h e sale completed, the man w a s about to leave when he r e m a r k e d with some feeling, " M r . Rushmore, I hate like sin to buy a cow f r o m you. You've spoiled my business. But you're so honest that when my baby got sick I w a s a f r a i d not t o . " Yet J o h n w a s f a r f r o m being an austere man. H e and S a r a h made themselves an active part of the social life of the region. Not only traveling Quaker preachers found hospitality in the Rushmore home ; frequently ministers of other churches who were attending district or county conventions, or for other reasons passing through, were entertained at dinner. John enjoyed himself g r e a t l y arguing good Hicksite doctrine with these gentlemen, challenging them on their own ground of theology. H e w a s an ardent disciple of Elias Hicks, born when the fires of the Separation were still h o t ; in his mind the truth lay clearly with the g r e a t L o n g Island apologist. S a r a h Rushmore disliked theology and took no part in the dinner-table discussions, but she shared her husband's concern for the religious life of the neighborhood. T h e y brought up their children to go to meeting every Sunday as a m a t t e r of normal procedure, without exceptions and without question. T h e r e were too few Friends' children to make special a r r a n g e m e n t s for them, so S a r a h became, and for many y e a r s remained, the superintendent of a union Sunday School held in the Friends' meeting house, the only building in the community devoted to religious purposes. In spite of caring nothing for doctrine, she 8

A Q U A K E R H O U S E H O L D IN T H E S E V E N T I E S

wielded a considerable religious influence. She was a nature lover, a good botanist, and she loved to grow flowers. She always had time to tell her children a story, or to do puzzles with them. Each child, of course, had specific tasks in the economy of a f a r m household, but if, while she washed dishes, Jane wanted to memorize poems her mother would help her choose them. H e r husband, cordial in his relations with other denominations, was inevitably asked to go on the list of those making donations to the Methodist minister's salary. A Quaker who had conscientious scruples against what an earlier generation regarded as a "hireling priesthood" could scarcely accede to such a request. Church suppers were, however, popular, with contributions made of whatever amount the guests felt they could offer. John took his family and never mentioned what he handed in. " I t ' s nobody's business what I pay f o r my supper," he said. N e i t h e r these pleasant encounters with non-Friends nor the smallness of the group of their own faith lessened the impact of Quaker thought on the growing Rushmore children. T h e y always attended Quarterly Meeting when it was held in the nearby town of Quaker Street, and sometimes h a d the treat of going with their parents when it convened at Albany. Since the longer trip meant an all-day drive, their horses could not be burdened with too heavy a load, but f o r the child who was allowed to go f o r the threeday occasion, the big city and the crowd at Quarterly M e e t i n g were high events. T h e visitors were always entertained with lavish hospitality, and social features then seemed m o r e important to Jane than the meetings. Although their f a t h e r was such a strenuous follower of Elias Hicks, the children were never made aware of the split t h a t h a d rent American Quakerism. T h e y thought of

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themselves just as "the Friends." Jane was not conscious until she went to New York Yearly Meeting when she was twenty that any other branch existed. The parental wisdom that made no reference to divisions, the fortunate lack of contact with more heated city tempers—where children on one side of the line talked scornfully of the "Holy O's" and those on the other pointed fingers at their opposite numbers and said, "Poison! Poison!"—meant that this family had no bitterness to outgrow, and J a n e in particular no hesitation when the time came for reconciling overtures. T o be sure Jane did not feast with pleasure on all the Quaker diet she was offered. When her father, with less pedagogic skill than his daughter later manifested, offered her five dollars to read George Fox's Journal, she announced after two chapters that she'd rather pull weeds to earn spending money. As a little child she was often reduced to counting the knotholes in the rafters of the meeting house while waiting for Grandfather D r a k e to break meeting. And when she was about twelve years old she heard a minister use the word "resurrection" a good deal in one of the family meetings for worship then often held. Jane took up the matter with the preacher at the close of the period of worship, asking quite specific questions about the body's walking after it was dead. She considered the replies evasive, indirect, and unsatisfactory. Yet some of the visiting Friends left a deep impression. Always entertained at the Rushmore home, holding the small and intimate family meetings there, being driven to the regular or appointed gatherings in the meeting house, these guests from the outer reaches of Quakerdom were a io

A QUAKER HOUSEHOLD IN T H E SEVENTIES

real part of the children's lives. Jane remembers especially T h o m a s Foulke of N e w York, a great expositor of the Bible; John J. Cornell f r o m Rochester, Ν . Y., who was an unimpassioned but clear-cut, logical interpreter of Hicksite views; and M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n of London Grove, Pa. W i t h no premonition of how close the association with M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n and her family was to become, Jane looked with young admiration upon a strikingly handsome woman whose serene face took on added beauty f r o m the most orthodox Quaker garb of that era, with its exquisitely made transparent white cap and immaculate sheer white kerchief folded down the f r o n t of a plain gray or black dress. M a r g a r e t t a was an acceptable preacher wherever she went, f o r she spoke with deep feeling and a rather hortatory, pleading eloquence which her hearers found genuinely moving. T h e succession of travelers passing through their home and the prized journeys to Quarterly Meeting were two of the main factors which maintained connection with the outside world of Quakerism. A third was the wide range of acquaintances made through G r a n d f a t h e r D r a k e . Israel D r a k e in the course of his wanderings had found various Friends who were looking f o r comfortable vacation quarters. H e began to take them into his own home in summer as paying guests. T o them he was a delightful host, driving them about the country in his three-seater, explaining local points of interest. Sometimes a single family took over one end of the large house completely, sometimes a group of friends made up a party and came together. O v e r the years this practice brought a good number of Friends into Potter Hollow. Among them were Dillwyn 11

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and Susan P a r r i s h , important members of Race Street M e e t i n g ; Deborah Fisher W h a r t o n , at one time clerk of the W o m e n ' s Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ; the Acton family, Elizabeth, Sarah, and their mother, f r o m Salem, N. J . ; and E d w a r d Parrish, first president of S w a r t h m o r e College. J a n e and her brothers often spent a week or more at their g r a n d f a t h e r ' s , which gave them a good opportunity to m a k e friends with the visitors. A f t e r supper, f a m i l y and guests g a t h e r e d in the lamplight of the living room for conversation or reading aloud. T h e children were soon dismissed, but J a n e ' s curiosity to know what the g r o w n u p s talked about found a way to circumvent going to bed. T h e table had long drop leaves and a longer cloth over it. U n d e r this excellent cover J a n e sat, listening to the talk, enjoying the long words she did not a l w a y s understand, and thrilling with the cadences and rhythm of " H i a w a t h a , " read by one of the Acton sisters. In this m a t r i x of simple but stimulating living the five Rushmore children were p r e p a r e d for emergence into a wider a r e a of activity. Even as they g r e w up some hints of new conditions that the turn of the century would bring into American life were being heard. T h e high-wheel bicycles gave w a y to the " s a f e t y " variety, one of which nearly caused the end of J a n e when she struck a stone as she coasted down a mountain road. Electric lights and telephones were beginning to make their appearance in l a r g e cities, though they had not reached remote country villages. It w a s still some time before a tale went through Preston H o l l o w that a carriage had been seen t r a v e l i n g along the road without horses. M a n y people did not be12

A QUAKER HOUSEHOLD IN T H E SEVENTIES

lieve the absurd r u m o r , setting it down as "one of those stage drivers' y a r n s . " But it was not to mechanical i m p r o v e m e n t s t h a t this family turned. T h e i r lives reflected the p a t t e r n s set in childhood. N o n e of them, to be sure, stayed on the acres of their f o r e b e a r s ; none of t h e m became f a r m e r s . Charles, the eldest, became a dealer in wholesale provisions in Albany. E d w a r d Cary, always bookish and intellectual, studied medicine and was f o r fifty years a beloved and h o n o r e d physician in T u x e d o P a r k , N . Y., becoming chief of staff of its hospital. M a r y also m a d e a career of medicine and surgery until she b r o k e h e r h e a l t h in caring f o r p o o r patients. A n n a m a r r i e d G e o r g e I r w i n and gave her a t t e n t i o n to h o m e m a k i n g , a w o m a n ' s club, and s h a r i n g h e r h u s b a n d ' s m a n y interests in Catskill, w h e r e they lived. Of t h e m all, J a n e h a d p e r h a p s the least indication as t o w h e r e h e r brief t r a i n i n g would lead h e r .

13

CHAPTER II

Sharpening the Tools John Rushmore's intention was to give all his children a good education. T o him, as to all rural families, this posed a problem. Small one- or two-room public schoolhouses were well distributed throughout the country, but facilities were necessarily meager f o r one teacher and a handful of children. School busses gathering pupils f r o m a wide area and well-equipped union schools were f a r in the future. T h e Cooksburg public school was nearest to the Rushmores, and here Charles and E d w a r d and J a n e began, while their f a t h e r ruminated on what better steps could be taken. T h e first year of J a n e ' s f o r m a l education cut two experiences deep into her memory. H e r g r a n d m o t h e r h a d knitted her some bright red stockings, and very pretty they must have been. N o n e of the other girls had such gay ones, so they ridiculed her. She tried to keep her legs out of sight, but she had to pay the penalty of nonconformity until at last her brothers came to her rescue and stopped the persecution by pelting the other girls with acorns. Academically she ran into rough weather too. In the usual custom of that day J a n e was to recite a poem (it was called "speaking a piece") b e f o r e the school. W h e n she found herself face to face with her audience f o r the first time she became so paralyzed with f e a r t h a t she rushed back to her seat in tears. I t was years b e f o r e she f o r g o t the f r i g h t of t h a t moment or was able to vanquish its influence. Perhaps she might never have done so had her mother not insisted that she should not be excused, as the teacher was willing to do, but should take her turn again in proper 15

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course. W h e n that time came she stood at a spot on the p l a t f o r m where the stove w a s between her and most of the school, fixed her eyes on a point in the stovepipe, and ran through the piece as fast as she could mutter the words. T h o s e who knew her long a f t e r as a forceful, assured speaker m a y be surprised to learn that there were many l a t e r occasions when she longed for a stovepipe. T h e Rushmore home supplemented the resources of the school with a m o d e r a t e number of books, all e a g e r l y devoured by the children. E d w a r d r e a d the whole of a bulky ancient history, several dull volumes, when he w a s seven. Even a new book put for safety on a high shelf he climbed up for and abstracted from time to time to read. But the problem of adequate regular schooling remained, and w a s increased by the determination of the parents that the two boys were not to be f a v o r e d more than the three girls. Both the established Quaker principle of equality of the sexes and the D r a k e tradition supported similar training for all. So although the older children started in the rural public school, it w a s not long before their f a t h e r planned f o r an improvement. H e w a s the prime mover in setting up a private school, and for many years, while his children attended it, was its chief financial backer. M i s s Rose H a r t w e l l , a lady of education and good manners, undertook this venture in a l a r g e second-floor room of her own home in Preston H o l l o w . T h e r e were perhaps a dozen pupils. M i s s H a r t w e l l g a v e all she had to her small flock, p r e p a r i n g the five Rushmores as well as she w a s able for a higher education. In addition J a n e loved to r e a d history with her Aunt M a r y D r a k e , and her own natural gravitation t o w a r d books widened her knowledge of English literature. 16

SHARPENING T H E TOOLS

Besides undergirding the private school, J o h n Rushmore had made definite plans to put each of his children through college, a rather unusual ambition f o r his day, especially so f a r as girls were concerned. H e had saved through the y e a r s a substantial sum f o r this purpose. Bef o r e it could be used, however, depreciation of his investments so reduced the amount that only two y e a r s of higher education could be allotted to each child. C h a r l e s did not care to finish college; E d w a r d was determined to g r a d u a t e and then pursue the study of medicine, which he did by his own efforts. J a n e f o l l o w e d her brothers to S w a r t h m o r e . A l t h o u g h she was not completely prepared, by h a r d w o r k she passed off her conditions soon a f t e r she entered. T h a t was in the autumn of 1 8 7 8 , b e f o r e she w a s fifteen. S w a r t h m o r e , like a number of older institutions which began as seminaries and a f t e r w a r d s raised their rank, w a s emerging f r o m a status of p r e p a r a t o r y school plus first college y e a r s and trying to shed its swaddling clothes to become exclusively a full-fledged college. A l l f o u r underg r a d u a t e y e a r s w e r e operating by 1 8 7 8 , but many of the regulations retained a strong flavor of b o a r d i n g school. U n d o u b t e d l y these rules clung longer than they might otherwise h a v e done because S w a r t h m o r e w a s coeducational and the conventions required v e r y strict supervision of the girls. In the a p p r o v e d architecture of the day there w a s one l a r g e building to house the entire school. T h e b o y s ' dormitory w a s at one end of the upper floors, the g i r l s ' at the other, with Collection H a l l in the center. A l l lights were out at 1 0 P.M. B y official regulation only Seniors and J u n i o r s might use the f r o n t door. T h e girls must take their w a l k s within strictly prescribed boundaries unless a teacher w a s along. T h e college proudly boasted

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two telephones, one in the president's office and one in the superintendent's. Any student who had never used this instrument might go to the superintendent's office, speak to the station agent a quarter of a mile a w a y , and hear his reply. J a n e w a s delighted to avail herself of the opportunity. On entering Swarthmore, J a n e had not had sufficient preliminary Latin, a subject she did not like or see any sense in. She and three other girls who were all having the same difficulty thought up a plan of writing to their f a t h e r s to see if they could not be excused from the course. J a n e wrote eloquently on how foolish it w a s to spend her time on such a subject. Much better to have the extra time for English ; L a t i n w a s of no practical use and she couldn't do it a n y w a y . T h e last phrase w a s a mistake. J o h n Rushmore replied that if she really could not learn L a t i n he understood there w a s another institution f a r t h e r up the r o a d where she could go, and she'd better take the train. H i s d a u g h t e r did not have to be told that he w a s r e f e r r i n g to the Elwyn School for the feeble-minded. Instruction tactics were for the professor to tell the students what they ought to know or to give them an assignment in a book, and then for the students to tell the information back to the professor. T h i s method, while out of date today, had its uses. T h e history course under M a r i a L. Sanford, for example, comprising a deluge of dates, persons, places, and events, J a n e found valuable many y e a r s later when she became an addict to crossword puzzles. T h e r e was a Sunday custom which M i s s S a n f o r d enc o u r a g e d — a recitation of Bible verses just before the opening of the meeting for worship. M i s s S a n f o r d so strongly approved the idea that she g a v e extra credit in 18

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her courses to those who thus participated in public worship, and if a student happened to be one who was good in history and had answered all the class questions correctly, his m a r k would run above 100, although 100 w a s the most that could go on his record. J a n e , however, w a s not one of those who volunteered with Bible texts. If the methods of teaching were old-fashioned, nevertheless there were personalities among the faculty who made a lasting impression on J a n e . E d w a r d M a g i l l , the president, a man of vigorous intellect, w a s engaged in a h a r d pioneering struggle to raise academic standards. It w a s uphill work to impress some of his B o a r d with the difference between a school and a college, but his mental brisk step, like his physical one, carried him f o r w a r d . Alr e a d y that r e m a r k a b l e woman, Susan J . Cunningham, w a s on the staff, teaching mathematics, but it w a s for her downto-earth g o o d judgment that J a n e still remembers her, calling her "professor of gumption and common sense." T h e astronomical observatory w a s built for her later. W i l l i a m H y d e Appleton, with the mind and temperament of a true scholar, instilled into many college generations a love of l e a r n i n g ; Samuel S. Green, the absent-minded professor, delighted his class by inquiring plaintively, " D o e s anybody know where my l a b o r a t o r y keys are ? " while jingling them in his hand. Promising boys were being attracted to the college by a comparatively young, nearsighted man, A r t h u r Beardsley, who with the most modest equipment w a s turning out good engineers and w a s l a y i n g the sound foundations f o r the present excellent department of engineering. M a r i a S a n f o r d herself, l a t e r h e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t of Rhetoric at the University of M i n n e s o t a , became so well known there that she w a s called " M i n n e s o t a ' s Grand Old L a d y . " 19

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T h e r e w e r e some n o t a b l e v i s i t i n g p r o f e s s o r s . T h e f a m o u s D r . J o s e p h L e i d y c a m e out f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a to teach n a t u r a l h i s t o r y ( b i o l o g y ) . H e did not c a r e much f o r e x a m i n a t i o n s , but w h e n he h a d to g i v e t h e m he t u r n e d the p a p e r s o v e r to be m a r k e d by a y o u n g S w a r t h m o r e teacher, E d w a r d M a r t i n , a f t e r w a r d a prominent s u r g e o n a n d f o r a time h e a d of the D e p a r t m e n t of H e a l t h f o r P h i l a d e l p h i a . A n d D r . J o s e p h T h o m a s , physician a n d l e x i c o g r a p h e r , came once or twice a w e e k to lect u r e on E n g l i s h l i t e r a t u r e . W i t h the S w a r t h m o r e students d r a w n l a r g e l y f r o m the H i c k s i t e body of F r i e n d s , J a n e ' s a c q u a i n t a n c e in this g r o u p w i d e n e d to include those f r o m m o r e d i s t a n t M e e t ings. P e r h a p s the M o o r e f a m i l y f r o m S a n d y S p r i n g , M d . , w a s her first direct touch w i t h the S o u t h . It w a s c e r t a i n l y a f a i r l y extensive s a m p l i n g , f o r besides E s t h e r , w h o w a s on the f a c u l t y , t h e r e w e r e a m o n g J a n e ' s f e l l o w s t u d e n t s M a r y , T o m , J o e , F r e d , G e o r g e , a n d R o l a n d , all closely r e l a t e d . T h a n k s to her m o t h e r ' s e a r l y f r i e n d s h i p , J a n e spent one of her college v a c a t i o n s at the home of C h a r l e s a n d H a n n a h M a r o t in P h i l a d e l p h i a , w h e r e one d a y a n e i g h b o r ' s child of about f o u r c a m e in, running to a blackb o a r d to d r a w pictures. Soon the f a m i l y b e g a n to s u g g e s t objects to him, and a n y t h i n g they m e n t i o n e d he could d r a w . H i s f a c i l i t y w a s so unusual t h a t J a n e r e m e m b e r e d his n a m e . It w a s M a x f i e l d P a r r i s h , w h o y e a r s l a t e r w a s the n a t i o n a l l y k n o w n i l l u s t r a t o r . Of all the subjects J a n e studied, E n g l i s h w a s h e r f a v o r i t e . She e n j o y e d d o i n g her best in the w r i t i n g of h e r t h e m e s . One a s s i g n m e n t w a s a description of a s t o r m . She h a d w a t c h e d m a n y f u r i o u s t e m p e s t s spend their s t r e n g t h in the C a t s k i l l M o u n t a i n s as she g r e w u p ; they b e l o n g e d to the f a b r i c of a country child's life, w h e r e w e a t h e r w a s 20

S H A R P E N I N G T H E TOOLS

an important part in the economy of the neighborhood. So J a n e wrote her theme out of experience and feeling. T h e result w a s so good that the instructor asked w h a t she had copied it f r o m . " F r o m n a t u r e l " replied the indignant author. T h e n and there J a n e determined that all her writing should be as effective as she could possibly m a k e it. One of her classmates especially appreciated her g i f t in this field, a girl f r o m Virginia who had money but considerably less talent in English. She proposed to give J a n e a dozen b a n a n a s if she would write her essay for her. J a n e felt no scruple w h a t e v e r about accepting this excellent b a r g a i n , which goes to show that s t a n d a r d s of academic probity vary and are not to be confused with desire for recognition of an accomplishment that is one's own. Besides developing her skill of clear and o r i g i n a l expression, J a n e w a s also absorbing the information of her choice with r e m a r k a b l e retentiveness and understanding. H e r procedure w a s shown in an incident that occurred some y e a r s a f t e r she left S w a r t h m o r e when she w a s t a k i n g a special course in mathematics at the U n i v e r s i t y of Pennsylvania. T h e teacher had been demonstrating a problem in trigonometry when he noticed that this student w a s not copying the demonstration as the others were. " W h e r e a r e your n o t e s ? " he demanded. J a n e pointed to her head. W h i l e the man w a s considering this unlikely situation, J a n e went on to remark, indicating the figures set f o r t h , " I understand you up to this point. A f t e r that I do not follow y o u . " Forced to return his attention to the blackboard the professor went through the explanation again, stopped at the place J a n e had signified, and h a d to admit that he h a d m a d e an error. A l l her life, beginning with the S w a r t h m o r e classrooms, J a n e has filled no notebooks and kept no files, but h a s depended completely on an alert and disciplined 21

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m e m o r y . It is a w a y too h a r d f o r most students, but f o r her the result h a s been an elasticity a n d tenacity which h a v e n e v e r w e a k e n e d t h r o u g h the y e a r s . Such a technique of l e a r n i n g p r o d u c e d g o o d r e s u l t s in J a n e ' s self-appointed explorations. T h e college library w a s a mine of w e a l t h which f a s c i n a t e d her. She never k n e w t h e r e w e r e so m a n y books, a l t h o u g h the l i b r a r y w a s actua l l y v e r y s m a l l a t the time. She couldn't s t a y a w a y f r o m these f r e e l y accessible riches, r e a d i n g t w o or t h r e e b o o k s a w e e k , s o m e t i m e s to the d e t r i m e n t of r e g u l a r w o r k . P e r h a p s the l i b r a r y g a v e h e r a b e t t e r g r o u n d i n g of e d u c a t i o n t h a n the c l a s s r o o m s , f o r t h r o u g h it she d e v e l o p e d a r e a d ing habit a n d f u r t h e r t r a i n e d h e r excellent m e m o r y . O t h e r e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r incidents h a d t h e i r s h a r e of influence in J a n e ' s brief t w o y e a r s . One w a s a visit to the college by L u c r e t i a M o t t , then n e a r the e n d of her long l i f e . A N a n t u c k e t - b o r n Q u a k e r , she a n d h e r h u s b a n d J a m e s h a d been a r d e n t w o r k e r s f o r the e m a n c i p a t i o n of the s l a v e s . L a t e r w i t h E l i z a b e t h C a d y S t a n t o n she t u r n e d h e r a t t e n t i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y to w o m e n ' s r i g h t s , a l t h o u g h t e m p e r a n c e a n d u n i v e r s a l peace also s h a r e d her i n t e r e s t . W h i l e she w a s i n e s c a p a b l y a r e f o r m e r t h r o u g h o u t her c a r e e r , the impression she m a d e on y o u n g J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s f a r f r o m t h a t of a stern a x - w i e l d e r . T h e l i t t l e old l a d y , f r a i l a n d delicate, in her eighties, w a s g i f t e d w i t h no especial eloquence. But she g a v e to her y o u t h f u l listener a curious f e e l i n g of an e n t i r e l y different a t m o s p h e r e , a sense of an invisible a u r a , v e r y much like t h a t which J a n e experienced y e a r s l a t e r in the presence of T a g o r e , in each case sensing a p e r s o n a l i t y upheld by the p o w e r of s p i r i t u a l forces. Quite different w a s the effect of an i n v i t a t i o n to visit D e b o r a h F i s h e r W h a r t o n . J a n e k n e w this l a d y to be v e r y 22

S H A R P E N I N G T H E TOOLS

wealthy, and the prospect of seeing a millionaire's home was alluring. T o her great surprise she was welcomed to a house plainer and simpler than her father's. F o r the first time it dawned on her that plainness really meant something. If a woman who had a million dollars found it actually undesirable to buy the superfluities she might have had, then those things were not necessary f o r anyone. J a n e never again cared whether or not she had things of her own that other people had. T h e Quaker principle of simplicity had come alive f o r her. In 1878 Swarthmore was not an important college. Its scholarship, in spite of President Magill's efforts, scarcely had a glimpse of the high plane it was to reach half a century later. But its set of values f o r living was very fine. Of her short stay there, J a n e did not even take full college work the first year. Y e t from her Swarthmore experience she received a totally different approach to life, a new sense of a bigger world and something to be done in it. N o educator can ask more than this f o r his labors. J a n e also found at Swarthmore a new idea of what a Quaker Meeting could be. Composed of students (who were required to attend), faculty, and the few families who were the nucleus of the village later to thrive around the college, it was f a r larger than any local Meeting she had ever attended. Its many visitors came from a rather different sphere, and the meetings f o r worship were often stimulating, encouraging, and vital. J a n e became personally interested in being a Friend. W h e n at the end of two years she went home, she continued her education by correspondence courses. In the next three years she worked with the Boston Society f o r H o m e Study. She had just one correspondent teacher with whom she took all her courses: history, economics, and

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literature. T h e w o r k w a s very thorough, each subject a p o s s i b l e e q u i v a l e n t to a y e a r ' s c o u r s e in the s a m e field in college. I n 1 8 8 2 she w a s a p p o i n t e d to teach the P r e s t o n H o l l o w P u b l i c S c h o o l , u n g r a d e d , w i t h f o r t y p u p i l s w h o w e r e in such a s t a t e o f d i s o r d e r t h a t t h e y h a d a l r e a d y o u s t e d t w o t e a c h e r s . J a n e t o o k s t o c k o f h e r r a t h e r f o r b i d d i n g first job. She found that there w e r e three big boys w h o really w a n t e d to l e a r n . T h e y w a l k e d w i t h h e r t o s c h o o l , a n d t h e y t o o k o v e r the t r o u b l e m a k e r s . T h e y a d m i n i s t e r e d discipline o n the s c h o o l g r o u n d s b y o t h e r t h a n a p p r o v e d p e d a g o g i c m e t h o d s , b u t e f f e c t i v e l y e n o u g h s o t h a t the w a y w a r d f o u n d it e a s i e r to c o m e a l o n g w i t h the t e a c h e r ' s i d e a s t h a n f a c e the s t r o n g - a r m s q u a d o u t s i d e . J a n e h a d n o t b e e n a b l e to o b t a i n a N e w Y o r k S t a t e first-grade c e r t i f i c a t e b e f o r e s h e s t a r t e d t e a c h i n g b e c a u s e she h a d h a d n o e x p e r i e n c e . A t N e w Y e a r ' s , w h e n she w a s t u r n i n g n i n e t e e n , it w a s g r a n t e d t o h e r b e c a u s e o f h e r success in s u b d u i n g t h a t s c h o o l . O f c o u r s e t h e b o y s d e s e r v e d the c e r t i f i c a t e , she s a i d l a t e r . S h e k e p t in t o u c h w i t h t h e m f o r y e a r s a f t e r w a r d . A l l of t h e m turned out well. A f t e r w a t c h i n g the new teacher at P r e s t o n H o l l o w , the p a r e n t s o f the t h r e e b o y s d e c i d e d to e s t a b l i s h a n o t h e r priv a t e s c h o o l in the v i l l a g e w i t h J a n e as the t e a c h e r . T h e o n e she h e r s e l f h a d a t t e n d e d h a d c l o s e d w h e n t h e r e w e r e n o m o r e R u s h m o r e c h i l d r e n to s u p p o r t it. T h e n e w s c h o o l w a s set u p o v e r the g e n e r a l s t o r e . A m o n g the ten o r fifteen p u p i l s w a s one u n p r e p o s s e s s i n g l a d w h o m J a n e w a s w a r n e d n o t to a c c e p t b e c a u s e his f a m i l y w o u l d n o t p a y t h e t u i t i o n . S h e d e c i d e d to t a k e h i m . S u r e e n o u g h , t h e r e w a s n o res p o n s e w h a t e v e r to t h e bill. J a n e ' s s a l a r y d e p e n d e d o n the t u i t i o n p a y m e n t s a n d she d r e w a b l a n k in this c a s e . A b o u t ten y e a r s l a t e r w h e n she h a d l e f t N e w Y o r k , J a n e o n e d a y 24

SHARPENING T H E TOOLS

received an envelope containing the original statement, yellow with age, a check, in full with compound interest added, and a note explaining that the young man was now in a position to pay his debts. A t the close of the brief school year, eight months in farming communities, Jane gave herself a little trip away f r o m home. Since going to Swarthmore she had developed some taste f o r the outside world, so she went to N e w Y o r k City for her first Y e a r l y M e e t i n g late in M a y 1884. She knew that the men's and women's business sessions would be held separately. A s she sat with the women, she found some impressive figures. T h e r e , wearing a plain scoop bonnet, was Phoebe A n n a T h o r n e , who later gave the money to establish a model school in connection with Bryn M a w r College. T h e r e , too, was H a n n a h W . H a y d o c k , a woman also greatly interested in education, a member of the first B o a r d of M a n a g e r s of Swarthmore College and one of the founders of the first medical school in N e w Y o r k open to women. She was among those who kept open house during Y e a r l y M e e t i n g f o r all visiting Friends. Another hostess was Jane Russell, w h o observed great plainness in dress but did not carry this simplicity to her ornate and apparently elaborately staffed home. E v e r y day during Y e a r l y M e e t i n g a smart pair of horses with liveried coachman waited with the carriage to take Friends home to a plentiful dinner, served by a colored waiter. Jane Rushmore, still rather unsophisticated, enjoyed this extensive hospitality as a marked feature of the week. M a r i anna Chapman, w h o m Jane thought the handsomest w o m a n in the Y e a r l y Meeting, was chairman of the Epistle Committee and very active in all M e e t i n g affairs, 2

5

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while Phoebe C. W r i g h t , little, plain, and not impressive at all, took, a serious responsibility in a number of civic matters, especially in seeing that matrons were installed in police stations where women prisoners were sent. A s a promising young Friend, J a n e was at once given a job at Y e a r l y M e e t i n g — t h a t of serving on the Epistle Committee for the W o m e n ' s M e e t i n g . It w a s the custom to write a separate epistle to each Y e a r l y M e e t i n g with whom they corresponded. T o accomplish this, each member of the committee took one of the incoming letters to answer. J a n e accepted one, wrote her reply, and presented it to the committee when it met. In the approved manner of such gatherings, commendation was expressed, and various polite suggestions were made. A t the end only one sentence of the original w a s left, and the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in session took that out. H e r mother and some of the committee felt very sorry. But J a n e said, "Oh, we have a barrel of old ones at home in the printed Extracts, and I can write one just like them." So the next y e a r she did, with all the well-worn, f a m i l i a r phrases, and it w a s a d m i r e d . But she never wrote another. Well-known Quaker preachers were in attendance, some of whom J a n e had h e a r d before but whose words were more impressive in the l a r g e joint meeting for worship. Sunderland P. Gardiner, a visitor from Genesee ( C a n a d a ) , spoke rapidly with well-chosen words as he w a l k e d up and down the length of the g a l l e r y unless, as J a n e w a s not slow to notice, someone put out a foot to b a r his progress. H e often even loosened his necktie to relieve the tension of speaking. T h e constant theme of these impassioned discourses w a s the conviction that God speaks directly to 26

S H A R P E N I N G T H E TOOLS

those who seek H i m , and through the Bible importantly but secondarily. A n o t h e r Genesee Friend present at these sessions was Isaac W i l s o n , fluent and able, who often stressed the thought that sin was not hereditary, but original with him who commits it, and w h o believed that resurrection w a s a spiritual and not a physical phenomenon. Both of these men were typical Hicksites. In the membership of N e w Y o r k M e e t i n g were a number of men w h o were prominent f o r various reasons, and w h o m Jane now met f o r the first time. Joseph A . Bogardus, a strong temperance advocate, served on committees f o r many other g o o d causes as w e l l ; A a r o n M . Powell, cultured and persuasive, was chiefly associated with the campaign f o r "Social and M o r a l P r o p h y l a x i s , " and was the brother of E l i z a b e t h Powell Bond who was later dean of Swarthmore C o l l e g e ; John W . Hutchinson was very active in penal r e f o r m movements. W i l l i a m M . Jackson, Jane observed, was one of the rather rare group who seemed to think twice b e f o r e he spoke once. H i s w i f e , A n n a M . Jackson, w a s devoted to the cause of education f o r the newly f r e e d N e g r o e s , particularly to support of the L a i n g School in Aiken, S. C . She never tired of keeping its needs before all w h o m she could reach, and the early struggles to offer educational opportunities to colored people owe much to her. T h i s group of Friends g a v e leadership in a wide range of social r e f o r m movements. I t was their deep belief that religion should be translated into the raising o f the whole community nearer to the Christian ideal. A n o t h e r of their number was H e n r y W . W i l b u r , a very g i f t e d man. A clear and f o r c e f u l speaker, author of a life 27

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of E l i a s H i c k s and of other shorter studies, he later became the first executive secretary of the A d v a n c e m e n t Committee. One of his convictions, o f t e n stated, was that " t h e most important thing in life is to build l i f e . " H i s g r e a t native ability and vigorous personality w e r e somewhat hampered by lack of early opportunity, yet he became a real leader in the wide field of the F r i e n d s G e n e r a l Conference. T h e r e were younger Friends of J a n e ' s own age at Y e a r l y M e e t i n g whose acquaintance w a s to last o v e r many years. T h e y included E l i z a b e t h S t o v e r , a f t e r w a r d s coprincipal of B r o o k l y n Friends School, J o s e p h i n e T i l t o n , a future recording secretary of Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r ence, E s t h e r H a v i l a n d Cornell and her husband, E d w a r d Cornell, whose later career embraced being a successful corporation lawyer, clerk of N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , and superintendent of the B r o o k l y n First-day School, and H a r r y A . H a w k i n s , the hardest and busiest w o r k e r J a n e ever saw, but one never in the limelight. Perhaps, however, the most important person to J a n e at that 1 8 8 4 N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w a s L a v i n i a Y e a t m a n , a visitor f r o m Pennsylvania. She w a s not of outstanding f a m e , but she was a good o b s e r v e r , and she carried in her mind the need of filling an open position at home. D u r i n g the week she approached J a n e and asked if she would like to take charge of the L o n d o n G r o v e Friends School, thirty miles out of P h i l a d e l p h i a . J a n e promised to think it o v e r . She went home, considered the proposal, and wrote f o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , enclosing her treasured first-grade certificate and g i v i n g as r e f e r ences the names of M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n and D e b o r a h 28

SHARPENING T H E TOOLS

W h a r t o n . I f the committee w a s satisfied, she would be g l a d to accept the appointment. A letter in reply stated that in view of the character of the references no further correspondence w o u l d be necessary. D u r i n g the summer Jane prepared to leave Preston H o l l o w . T h e new school she would teach was no larger than the one she w a s relinquishing, which was forthwith closed. N o r w a s the new salary any special inducement. But she was g o i n g to a new place, nearer to large cities, nearer to the locality she had known when she was at S w a r t h m o r e . It w a s an adventure to take a job away f r o m home. So she packed her small trunk and set forth to her first employment within the circuit of Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . She was twenty years old.

29

CHAPTER III

"Jane,

Chester County, Pa."

Jane Rushmore's observant blue eyes were quick in their survey of the scene of her new activities. She found that, in contrast to the rural locality where she had grown up, the Friends were the majority in numbers and influence. The London Grove Meeting was large. Its members, mostly farmers, of course, were well educated and prosperous. They identified themselves as being " f r o m Chester County," partly because Bayard Taylor, the author, Ezra Michener, who in 1860 wrote a Retrospect of Early Quakerism, and John Bartram and Humphrey Marshall, the naturalists, all were born there, partly from a certain pride in their direct descent from the founding settlers. Friends had established themselves in London Grove early in the eighteenth century; their original log meeting house was built in 1 7 1 4 . Names of the first trustees of the grant were still perpetuated in their descendants, whose fertile acres spread widely around the big stone house of worship and the small village. The school was Jane's immediate concern, so she was pleased to discover that London Grove Friends were interested in education. Some of them believed that they should patronize the public school and lend their support to its improvement. Others felt that the best environment for their children was a school under the care of the Meeting. But they had had some trouble in maintaining a private school. Its stone building had been erected by Friends in 1 8 1 8 , directly across the road from the meeting house. Then financial difficulty had developed an odd situation. The ground floor was rented to the public school, while the second floor was used for the Meeting's school. Fortu-

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nately there w a s no animosity between the educational rivals. In the single room upstairs can still be seen the teacher's p l a t f o r m all the w a y across one end, with blackb o a r d s behind it, and, at the other end, small alcoves f o r the boys' and girls' w r a p s , closets f o r books and equipment, and a tall secretary-bookcase filled with dusty mineral specimens. T h e last w e r e not much used, but in a small school with f e w resources such a collection, doubtless given by a neighborhood amateur geologist, h a d its value on rainy days. A t the opening in the autumn of 1 8 8 4 , twelve children a p p e a r e d . J a n e w a s , of course, the one teacher. She w a s not dismayed at the small size of the enrollment nor at the modest salary of $ 4 0 a month ( l a t e r increased to $ 5 0 when the school did w e l l ) ; a f t e r all she h a d been taught and had done a y e a r ' s teaching in just such small schools. It did not take her long, however, to see a difference here. In Preston H o l l o w private education w a s almost in the nature of tutoring groups, enduring while the most interested families kept them up, then disappearing. But the L o n d o n G r o v e School had a history of more than sixty years, whose lapses in continuity—doubtless there had been s o m e — w e r e the t e m p o r a r y f e a t u r e r a t h e r than the existence itself. L o n d o n G r o v e was an even smaller hamlet than the ones of J a n e ' s childhood, but the surrounding country w a s f u l l of F r i e n d s ' families. H e r e w e r e real potentialities f o r g r o w t h if she could be persuasive enough. She liked challenges. F r o m the beginning it w a s obvious that she would find g r e a t reliance and strength in R o b e r t L . P y l e . H e was a member of the school committee; some of his children w e r e already among the first twelve. H e w a s a small man, g r o w i n g d e a f , who had begun his career as a country store-

32

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

keeper. H i s ability developed the business into a merchandizing establishment to which people drove f r o m miles around. L a t e r three branch stores were set up in towns some distance away. H e became president o f the F i r s t N a t i o n a l B a n k o f W e s t G r o v e . T o his acumen were added fair dealing and interest in people. N e v e r swallowed up in business, he was always ready to help in neighborhood affairs, with a singular capacity for getting things done. H e seldom appeared in a public position ; usually someone else sat in the chairman's seat. But it was his finely balanced reasoning, his intelligent grasp, and his careful attention that made him a mainstay not only in his own family but throughout the community. J a n e discovered this early, and she watched through many years his strong, reliable judgment functioning in the guidance o f her school, in L o n d o n G r o v e M e e t i n g , and in the most important committees o f the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . Hospitality was characteristic o f the Pyles. Soon a f t e r J a n e ' s arrival in L o n d o n G r o v e she was invited there to supper, and the youngest son, R o b e r t , embarked on a tale o f his latest exploit in gathering chestnuts. E a c h o f his crowd o f boys was working to see who could get a bushel first. R o b e r t was ahead and well pleased about it. T h e y planned to thrash the trees the next day. T h e new teacher listened as they sat in front o f the fire. T h e n she said, " W e l l , whose chestnuts are t h e s e ? " H e r small auditor was astonished. W e r e n ' t chestnuts the possession o f any seven-year-old who found t h e m ? T h a t evening, R o b e r t said years later, he had his first lesson in property rights. T h e next day's expedition was abandoned. A t first J a n e lived in the home o f David and E m m a l i n e Swayne, where she remembers a surprise party given her on her twenty-first birthday. She walked in f r o m school to

33

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APPOINTMENT

a r o o m f u l l of p e o p l e w h o e v i d e n t l y f e l t r a t h e r w a r m l y a l r e a d y t o w a r d the new t e a c h e r so r e c e n t l y c o m e a m o n g t h e m . T h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r she m o v e d to the house of D r . J o s e p h Stubbs, w h o s e w i f e D e b o r a h w a s to be a close and congenial f r i e n d a s l o n g a s she l i v e d . B e f o r e h e r m a r r i a g e D e b o r a h W a l t o n h a d been a t e a c h e r a t D a r l i n g t o n S e m i n a r y in W e s t C h e s t e r . She w a s c u l t u r e d , quiet, a n d d i g n i f i e d . W h e n J a n e , soon a f t e r her a r r i v a l , s t i r r e d the L o n d o n G r o v e M e e t i n g up to s t a r t i n g a F i r s t - d a y school, D e b o r a h S t u b b s at once b e c a m e active in it. L a t e r she w a s a m e m b e r of M i n i s t e r s a n d E l d e r s f o r the M e e t i n g . A s the w i f e of a busy c o u n t r y d o c t o r and the m o t h e r of t w o c h i l d r e n she w a s l i t t l e a w a y f r o m home, t h o u g h t h e r e w a s a g r e a t d e a l of c o m p a n y a t the house. She w a s , h o w e v e r , a p p o i n t e d a m e m b e r of the first comm i t t e e on G e o r g e School, h e l p i n g to set the s t a m p on its e a r l i e s t y e a r s a n d m a k i n g a connection d e s t i n e d to be of i m p o r t a n c e to h e r s e l f . She w a s a l w a y s i n t e r e s t e d in r e a d ing, i n c l u d i n g not o n l y n e w b o o k s a s t h e y c a m e out, but the classics. She p r o p o s e d to J a n e t h a t t h e y r e a d L a t i n tog e t h e r . A c c o r d i n g l y t h e y spent s o m e t i m e w i t h Cicero and Virgil, J a n e having f o r t u n a t e l y recovered f r o m her earlier a n t i p a t h y to the old l a n g u a g e . D e b o r a h e x p r e s s e d herself w e l l on q u e s t i o n s of n a t i o n a l life, or local a f f a i r s as these w e r e discussed by the t w o w o m e n a n d D r . Stubbs, and the ladies found each other mutually stimulating. T h e S t u b b s h o u s e w a s a s c a n t m i l e f r o m the school. In all w e a t h e r s J a n e could be seen s w i n g i n g d o w n the lane a n d up the r o a d to the s c h o o l h o u s e in a s t e a d y s t r i d e . O n l y once did she f a i l to open the school. T h a t w a s a f t e r a b l i z z a r d w h e n the d r i f t s in the r o a d w e r e so high t h a t the horse d r i v e n by D r . S t u b b s ' s m a n w a s stuck b e y o n d a n y possibility of g e t t i n g t h r o u g h . 34

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

F o r perhaps four or five years she conducted the school alone. Some of her moves, it was true, had been looked at askance by at least a few Friends. W h e n their school had an outside speaker or a special demonstration, financed by the Yearly M e e t i n g ' s Committee on Education, J a n e had invited the children f r o m downstairs to come in. She was rebuked by the timid, who remonstrated, " W h a t ' s the use of a private school if its a d v a n t a g e s are to be shared with public-school c h i l d r e n ? " B u t J a n e was right. She was making friends and practising democracy. While some questions came up that had to be decided by the committee, and some on which J a n e sought the counsel of R o b e r t L . Pyle or other committee members, there were some m a t t e r s which she dealt with unhesitatingly. It never occurred to her to ask f o r a committee decision about accepting colored children. T h e s e little boys and girls were used to coming to the downstairs school when it was public; now when a few of them applied under the new dispensation they were accepted. E a r l i e r there had been an older boy who wanted to be p r e p a r e d f o r Lincoln University. I s r a e l D r a k e ' s g r a n d d a u g h t e r did not consider refusing him; she only s u g g e s t e d that he sit at the end of the bench and leave the girls alone. T h e r e was no t o r n a d o at L o n d o n G r o v e . E v e r y t h i n g went as calmly as ever with no objections raised. I t was a m a t t e r of course. T h e pupils began on her a r r i v a l to address her as T e a c h e r J a n e . A m o n g F r i e n d s it w a s not the custom to use the worldly appellations of M r . , M r s . , or M i s s , and these children were practising an accepted substitute. T h e new incumbent, scarcely older than some of her students, did not care f o r the title, so she h a d the boys and girls call her J a n e f r o m the s t a r t . A s her acquaintance widened rapidly 35

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t h r o u g h the entire n e i g h b o r h o o d , she w a s a l w a y s n a m e d in the s a m e w a y . Some y e a r s l a t e r a P h i l a d e l p h i a F r i e n d r e m a r k e d t h a t if a l e t t e r a d d r e s s e d to " J a n e , C h e s t e r C o u n t y , P a . " w e r e posted he w a s sure it w o u l d r e a c h her. A s she l e f t P r e s t o n H o l l o w to g o to L o n d o n G r o v e , her f a t h e r h a d offered h e r a p a r t i n g a d m o n i t i o n : " R e m e m ber, you will not be i m p o r t a n t to the c o m m u n i t y until you m a k e y o u r s e l f s o . " J a n e t h e r e f o r e u n d e r t o o k to b u i l d herself into C h e s t e r C o u n t y . She a t t e n d e d the local t e a c h e r s ' institutes a n d the f a r m e r s ' institutes. T h e l a t t e r m a d e a p r a c t i c e of a l w a y s h a v i n g a w o m a n on the p r o g r a m . Bef o r e l o n g J a n e w a s invited to this p l a c e . T h e first y e a r she r e f u s e d , s a y i n g she d i d n ' t k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t j e l l i e s and c a k e s . T h e next time she consented, s p e a k i n g on " T h e F a r m e r of the F u t u r e . " She t h o u g h t t h a t s a f e since no one k n o w s a n y t h i n g about the f u t u r e . She did touch on the condition of the r o a d s , then a l m o s t hub deep in m u d . She decried it as foolish to haul d i r t to nil in the r o a d s , then h a u l it out as mud on w a g o n w h e e l s so t h a t the they could h a u l in m o r e d i r t . " W h a t do you k n o w a b o u t r o a d b u i l d i n g ? " someone called out. " I ' m no e x p e r t on b u i l d i n g r o a d s , I ' m only an expert on how not to build t h e m , " she r e p l i e d . On a n o t h e r occasion, w i t h t a x a t i o n a s h e r subject, she held t h a t the f a r m e r is doubly t a x e d . F i r s t he p a y s i n t e r e s t on the m o r t g a g e because he c a n ' t p a y f o r the f a r m , and then he p a y s t a x e s because he's the o w n e r of it. H e r r e m a r k s , both a p t a n d quaint, c a u g h t the f a n c y of the a v e r a g e f a r m e r and h e r p a p e r s w e r e a l w a y s p o p u l a r . Quite different w e r e the t e a c h e r s ' institutes, which she a t t e n d e d f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l help. A f t e r J o s e p h S. W a l t o n , b r o t h e r of D e b o r a h Stubbs, w a s elected county superintendent by the school d i r e c t o r s , he c h a n g e d the c h a r a c t e r of the institutes so t h a t the best a v a i l a b l e instruction w a s

36

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

given. Of course they were set up for the benefit of the teachers in the public schools, but they were open to anyone who wanted to be present. Adhering to her established practice, Jane took no notes at the sessions. She said she was afraid of getting into a rut, teaching the same thing the same way time a f t e r time. Ruts are comfortable, but you can't grow in them. You only grow to them. Other ruts than teaching ones offended Jane too. W h e n she first came to the three-day institute she observed that most of the teachers wore a different dress every day. She did not propose to do anything of that sort. She was able to keep a dress clean for a few days. So she took only one, and at the first meal a waitress spilled a whole dish of sticky preserve down her shoulder and sleeve. She remarked, " N o w I know how it feels to be stuck up," and a f t e r that she brought along an extra frock. Ultimately she herself became an almost constant speaker at the local institutes, either formally or informally, where her remarks were related to the immediate situation, sensible and cogent, and always laced with humor and witty phrasing. W h a t e v e r Jane may have learned at the institutes, the quality of her teaching must have been largely her own. H e r e was a one-room, one-teacher school at its best. Robert Pyle, among her earliest pupils, recalled that she sat at an angle to her desk, her left elbow resting on it, her right hand slowly sliding the little gold charm on her long watch chain. T h e reciting class took the seats immediately in f r o n t of her. Other children were supposedly doing their own tasks behind. W h e n the recitation began, however, it frequently happened that all the children stopped their work, engrossed in listening to Jane. She analyzed everything to the bottom. Explanations were within the 37

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child's g r a s p a n d so t h o r o u g h they w e r e u n f o r g e t t a b l e . Side issues w e r e discussed if they w e r e b r o u g h t up. T h e r a n g i n g i n t e r e s t and the u n c o n v e n t i o n a l t r e a t m e n t of the subjects m a d e m a n y of the classes a m i n i a t u r e f o r u m f o r the entire school. T h e t e a c h e r h a d g r e a t u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a r e m a r k a b l e p o w e r of insight, a n d she w a s j u s t . T h e s e q u a l i t i e s m a d e discipline a l m o s t u n n e c e s s a r y . A t l e a s t no one r e m e m b e r s instances of it now, except a f e w in midweek meeting. A m e e t i n g f o r w o r s h i p w a s r e g u l a r l y held on one of the m o r n i n g s in the m i d d l e of the w e e k by all F r i e n d s a t this time, a n d if t h e r e w a s a local F r i e n d s ' school, the children i n v a r i a b l y a t t e n d e d . On W e d n e s d a y m o r n i n g s a t L o n d o n G r o v e the children w a l k e d quietly, not in f o r m a t i o n but in n a t u r a l g r o u p s , across the r o a d a n d into the m e e t i n g house, boys s i t t i n g on the m e n ' s side, g i r l s on the w o m e n ' s . A l t h o u g h these children w e r e in g r e a t p r o p o r t i o n F r i e n d s , a c c u s t o m e d to silent w o r s h i p , y e t w h e n a l a r g e g r o u p sat t o g e t h e r it w a s p r e t t y h a r d not to g i v e w a y to g i g g l e s or a little m i s c h i e f . Once w h e n t h e r e w a s some d i s t u r b a n c e on the boys' side, J a n e rose f r o m her s e a t w i t h the g i r l s a n d u s h e r e d the offender to the f a c i n g bench w h e r e the w h o l e m e e t i n g h a d its eye on him. " T h e only time I w a s e v e r i n v i t e d to sit in the g a l l e r y , " the culprit s a i d y e a r s later. A boy h a d been told one d a y to finish a piece of w o r k b e f o r e he went home, but instead he s t a r t e d to l e a v e . J a n e b a c k e d up to the only d o o r a n d s a i d to him, " T h e e can g o if thee w a n t s to, but I w o u l d like thee to t h i n k about s o m e t h i n g first. If thee goes, which thee m a y do, thee w i l l n e v e r come b a c k . T h i n k it o v e r . " H e stood t w i s t i n g his cap f o r a l o n g minute, then set down his d i n n e r p a i l . " W h a t do you w a n t me to d o ? " he g r u m b l e d . W h e n he

38

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

finished in about five minutes, his good temper restored, Jane said cheerfully, "Goodbye, I'll be very glad to see thee tomorrow." M a n y of her pupils now recall how thoughtfully and carefully she went over their problems with them, how little discipline was ever apparent, and they repeatedly say, "She was a wonderful teacher!" One of them, who later reached a place of considerable prominence, tells with amusement that he said to her fervently in his mature years, "Everything I ever amounted to I owe to thee." "Oh, don't mention a little thing like t h a t , " J a n e replied absently. Naturally enough, the vigorous head of their school became a person of note in the Monthly Meeting. Almost immediately a f t e r her arrival in London Grove a large temperance meeting was held, at which antislavery, a crusade successfully concluded two decades earlier, was constantly r e f e r r e d to as a parallel cause. T h e uninhibited newcomer entered into a debate on this issue then and there, declaring that here were two basically different questions and that it was muddy thinking to bracket them together. London Grove sat up. W h a t was this young firecracker they h a d invited to their midst? A t t h a t time the local Young Friends Association was an active organization whose program was that of a literary society. Some of their meetings were given over to debates, which had a great vogue around the nineties. J a n e enjoyed these very much and was often on one of the teams until it grew difficult to find anyone to oppose her. H e r plan was to think up all her opponent's points and rebut them before he h a d a chance to speak. She did not have, fortunately, so devastating an effect in the many First-day school and Friends Association con39

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ferences that w e r e held jointly with other such groups f r o m a w i d e r a r e a . In these cheerful, sociable assemblies, a g a i n she took sufficient p a r t to be noticed, because she was shortly asked to r e a d a p a p e r one evening of Y e a r l y M e e t ing W e e k in P h i l a d e l p h i a when the F i r s t - d a y School Committee h a d c h a r g e of the p r o g r a m . T h e h e a d l i n e r that night w a s Jesse H . H o l m e s , whose explosive force a l w a y s drew a l a r g e crowd. It w a s a w a r m M a y evening, and J a n e wore a light, summery dress which, with her blond hair, g a v e her a v e r y y o u t h f u l aspect. T h e presiding officer opened the meeting and in due time called for J a n e . A s she rose and w a l k e d down the aisle, he looked at her without recognition and said, as if bored by an interruption, " W h a t does thee w a n t ? " " N o t h i n g in p a r t i c u l a r , " J a n e said, " I w a s just a n s w e r i n g to my n a m e . " " O h , " blurted the surprised chairman, " I w a s expecting thee to be middleaged, d a r k , and strong-minded l o o k i n g . " London Grove offered more than Q u a k e r l y activities, g r a n g e meetings, and teachers' institutes. T h e county seat, W e s t Chester, only thirteen miles a w a y , w a s a town which drew lecturers of wide reputation. T h e s e w e r e the days of " U n i v e r s i t y Extension" courses, which b r o u g h t George W . Cable, J a m e s W h i t c o m b R i l e y , T h o m a s W T entworth H i g g i n s o n , and other such celebrities of the time to outlying centers. T o listen to these men w a s a g r e a t treat to J a n e , who went to hear them as often as possible. T h e cultural opportunities of W e s t Chester, by no means inconsiderable and g r e a t e r than any she h a d h a d before except during her two y e a r s at college, were a p r i z e d addition to her education and brought her in touch with the outside w o r l d as she could not otherwise have been. T w o homes in London Grove were the center of her social life, that of R o b e r t L . Pyle with his children (his 40

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

wife had d i e d ) , and that of T h o m a s Chalkley B a r t r a m . Chalkley B a r t r a m was treasurer of the school committee, his two children, F r a n k and M a r y , were in the school, and his wife, Anna, was a great entertainer. Anniversaries of all kinds and holidays provided occasions f o r parties at the Bartrams, and the near conjunction of several birthdays, among them Jane's, meant t h a t f o r years there was always high festivity in J a n u a r y at these houses. " W e wrote poems to each other and ate a great succession of desserts," said J a n e . Although these were the families whom she visited most often, she of course knew everybody. As there were no trained nurses in the country, neighbors came in to help when illness or misfortune beset a household. J a n e took her turn sitting up with the sick, only specifying that she must serve at the end of the week. T o f u r t h e r her acquaintance with her pupils she stayed overnight in seemingly innumerable homes. I t was a pretty taxing addition to her week's work, but she got to know the children well. In her mind this acquaintance was basic to sound teaching. She became, according to her own account, an expert on the c o m f o r t of beds in Chester County. I t was quite a step when because of increased enrollment the committee asked the public-school b o a r d to give up its downstairs room. N o t only would the Friends not have the rent, but they would have to provide the salary of a teacher to take care of the elementary grades that were to be given the g r o u n d floor. H o w e v e r , the school was obviously prospering and the L o n d o n Grove M e e t i n g h a d confidence in the new venture. T h e n c e f o r t h children were accepted f o r their whole elementary and secondary education. F o r a decade or more J a n e headed a two-teacher school. 41

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T o conduct the elementary d e p a r t m e n t J a n e had had a succession of assistant teachers. F o r a v a r i e t y of reasons none of them had stayed v e r y long. B y the spring of 1 8 9 8 it became necessary to look again f o r an occupant of this position. T h e C o m m i t t e e on E d u c a t i o n of Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , s p e a r h e a d e d by the stirring Clement M . Biddle of L a n s d o w n e , had established a F r i e n d s ' teachertraining class, to encourage F r i e n d s to g o into teaching and to equip the students better f o r doing so. T h e class met every day in the R a c e Street M e e t i n g H o u s e under Belle M o o n e y . D u r i n g the course she took them f o r two weeks to W i l m i n g t o n to observe the g o o d F r i e n d s ' school there, and again similarly to G e o r g e School. T h e members of the class w e r e given practice teaching by acting as substitutes in the v a r i o u s F r i e n d s ' schools, and at the end of the y e a r they knew something about their p r o f e s s i o n . So J a n e came to Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in the spring of '98 to shop f o r a new assistant. Clement Biddle indicated one member of the training class w h o m he considered suitable, but the young w o m a n seemed r a t h e r colorless to J a n e and her eye r o v e d f u r t h e r . " W e l l , " said Clement, " t h e r e are some others o v e r y o n d e r , " pointing to w h e r e a g r o u p of these girls stood together. " B r i n g me that one with the brown eyes and curly h a i r , " said J a n e , and was shortly introduced to E m m a B a r n e s W a l l a c e . E m m a w a s e n g a g e d on the spot. She came to L o n d o n G r o v e in the autumn to begin not only her teaching but a lifetime of the closest personal friendship with her associate. J a n e never r e g r e t t e d her choice. It was r e m a r k a b l e that E m m a f r o m the first never h a d any trouble with discipline in a situation that some of her predecessors h a d f o u n d difficult. She w a s young, pretty, shy, and gentle, characteristics that m a d e people o v e r l o o k her quite firm chin.

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" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

While the first qualities broke down the defenses, the chin marched in to victory without anyone's quite knowing what had happened. E m m a was a success with the elementary grades on the first floor. T h e whole school, indeed, had become a flourishing institution, f a v o r a b l y known all over the county. By 1900 it had grown in size to fifty-two, practically capacity for the two rooms. It had prepared students to enter Swarthmore and had sent out two others who a f t e r only one more year of further study had entered Smith and Cornell. J a n e had made an ineradicable impression on the pupils she taught. H e r school was definitely a Friends' school. E v e r y morning the opening feature was a brief religious talk to the whole group of children. T h e r e was a reading f r o m the Bible with explanation or background or comment f r o m J a n e , and then the core of the thought written on the blackboard f o r memorizing. T h i s was no routine exercise; it had vitality and meaning. A number of her students still mention the sharp memory they retain of those talks on the Bible. W i t h no training in pedagogy, she used methods formulated years later by progressive schools. Quite unaware of what was developed long a f t e r w a r d as the Dalton plan, she gave the children individual assignments to work out. E a c h pupil wrote a composition every day on something he was interested in—only occasionally were topics given. Children and teachers together made a f e w rules so that they might have conditions in which they did not disturb each other. In the monthly report books prepared f o r parents the item of deportment was marked up by the children a f t e r they had consulted among themselves, and Jane found the boys and girls harder on offenders than she would have been. 43

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T h e r e w e r e special h o l i d a y s given each y e a r : in the winter a h a l f - d a y for skating, in the spring a h a l f - d a y for a picnic, and, best of all, a special p a r t y before Christmas f o r candy-making. H e r e the hospitable B a r t r a m home a p p e a r e d as a strong ally. A n n a B a r t r a m never minded how many children were t e a r i n g through her house, and the m a n a g e m e n t of the occasion w a s assumed by her housekeeper, M a r y M a c k e r e t h , a skilled candy artificer, and J a n e . W h e n it w a s over, each child had a box of sweets to c a r r y home. A n o t h e r f e a t u r e of the school y e a r w a s a p l a y . J a n e h a d certainly h a d little theatrical experience, and plays w e r e a novelty in Q u a k e r schools then, to say the least, but she m a n a g e d a s a t i s f a c t o r y production. Some boys who wouldn't study w e r e found to be excellent at the mechanics of s t a g i n g . A s her own proficiency increased, J a n e developed the potentialities not only of her students, but of her assistant. T h e school h a d a m i d d a y recess of a full hour. J a n e and E m m a carried their lunch to school, in pleasant weather sitting on the big stone step to eat it. During that lunch period E m m a b r o u g h t her problems to J a n e and had, as she said, an hour of teacher training every day. T o be t a u g h t by a w o m a n of such ability w a s a priceless opportunity for a young beginner. E m m a w a s learning how to apply w h a t J a n e stated in her speeches at institutes: that first you have to have k n o w l e d g e of w h a t you are going to teach, then you h a v e to have k n o w l e d g e of human nature and the individuality of your pupils, and finally you must h a v e a technique f o r bringing your own knowledge into a f o r m suitable to the human m a t e r i a l b e f o r e you. J a n e undoubtedly had a touch of genius in following this plan herself. In her classes everything moved forw a r d enlivened by her original, offhand r e m a r k s . A certain 44

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( a b o u t IQOO)

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

lame boy was disheartened by his handicap because it cut him off from athletic pursuits. Y e a r s later he came into the office at 15 15 Cherry Street, bringing J a n e a basket of fine peaches he had grown, explaining that now he was a successful accountant, and asked her if she remembered saying to him, " A man's ability to get on does not reside in his legs." Another pupil has stated that in caliber she ranked with the great Quaker educators like Benjamin F . Hallowell and E d w a r d H . Magill and would have taken her place with them if she had worked in a larger field. None are more grateful to her than some of the boys who later became highly successful in their careers, such as Robert Pyle, president of the Conard Pyle Company, rose growers, and George Scarlett, state senator. A s the unusual quality of the teaching at London Grove became known through Chester County, other schools cast an appraising eye on its staff. Only five miles away, at Kennett Square, Martin Academy had a good reputation. I t was under the care of Kennett Monthly Meeting, though it had received its name and some endowment funds f r o m Samuel Martin, one of the Kennett Friends. In 1 9 0 0 the committee of this school invited J a n e Rushmore to become its principal and E m m a Wallace to head the intermediate department. T h e school was much larger than the one where they had worked so long and its high-school department had gained considerable importance. Kennett Square was a town of f a i r size, indeed it was on the railroad, which meant that travel to other points was possible without a three-mile carriage drive to the station. Changes, moreover, had come about in living conditions at London G r o v e . A f t e r a serious break in the health of D r . Stubbs a couple of years before, his wife had taken him to California, where the family lived f o r the short remaining period of his life. J a n e Rushmore and E m m a Wallace 45

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w e r e n a t u r a l l y not so firmly rooted a f t e r w a r d s as they had been in the unusually congenial Stubbs home, a household J a n e h a d s h a r e d for fourteen y e a r s . P e r h a p s they had been in one school long enough. N e w conditions were stimulating. T h e y accepted the invitation. In her new school the principal put into operation the methods which h a d been successfully tried out at London Grove. T h e s e included a considerable amount of student participation in school government, a drastic reduction in the number of f o r m a l rules, and lesson assignments calculated to stir up o r i g i n a l thinking r a t h e r than the m e m o r i z i n g of f a c t u a l k n o w l e d g e . T e a c h e r s College of Columbia U n i v e r s i t y w a s at this time advocating such changes in educational philosophy, but J a n e w a s not acquainted with the fact that others were developing similar ideas f o r school m a n a g e m e n t . She used her own commonsense view of w h a t schools ought to try to do. L i k e the rest of the M a r t i n A c a d e m y staff, the new members lived, at least for the first y e a r , at the Friends H o m e . But J a n e soon g r e w to feel that the teachers unwittingly tended to dominate conditions at the H o m e , pushing the older residents into the background. She w a s g l a d when an opportunity came f o r her and Emina to become a p a r t of C h a r l e s Pennock's f a m i l y . T h e y were a l r e a d y well acquainted. T h e three children were in the school and their mother w a s secretary of its Committee. Charles Pennock w a s a state ornithologist for D e l a w a r e , and birds became at once a subject of d e t a i l e d interest to the newcomers in the household. Social life in Kennett w a s quite different f r o m that in London Grove. T h e r e w a s not the gathering in of all the community for a b i r t h d a y p a r t y . Instead there w e r e separ a t e church groups, a l a r g e w o m a n ' s club, and endless cardp l a y i n g a f t e r n o o n s and evenings. T h e teachers at M a r t i n 46

" J A N E , CHESTER COUNTY, P A . "

Academy did not want to play cards, since some of the patrons of the school disapproved such recreation. T h i s withdrawal of the faculty members detached them f r o m the town circles. W h e n they did come to a party some other entertainment had to be devised f o r them. A few supporters of the school and all the teachers stood out against a card-ridden life, f o r it had become a community problem. But their efforts to reduce or change it were not very successful. Kennett, however, had the g r e a t a d v a n t a g e of making Philadelphia accessible. N o w , even m o r e than in earlier years, J a n e and E m m a were constantly going somewhere on S a t u r d a y s — t o institutes, conferences, classes at the University of Pennsylvania. J a n e w a s in ever g r e a t e r demand as a speaker and she could now m o r e easily reach the larger gatherings at F i f t e e n t h and R a c e streets. Without her being in the least conscious of it, J a n e ' s interest w a s being bit by bit weaned away f r o m schoolwork. H e r p r o g r a m w a s much m o r e strenuous than b e f o r e . T h e larger, g r a d e d school with definite requirements f o r graduation m a d e a heavier administrative load, and the teaching had to be somewhat m o r e f o r m a l . I t w a s not possible on account of the size of the school to have quite the s a m e relationship with the individual pupils, though J a n e did her best. She w a s p l e a s e d that f r o m her first small g r a d u a t i n g class H o w a r d T h o m a s won a H a v e r f o r d College scholarship and Philip M . H i c k s the I. V . Williamson partial scholarship to S w a r t h m o r e College, where he later h e a d e d the English D e p a r t m e n t . T h e deaths of both J o h n and S a r a h R u s h m o r e during these years made it harder f o r their daughter to enter fully into local interests. Nevertheless, with the breaking up of her parents' home J a n e ' s life became more surely oriented in Pennsylvania.

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A f t e r she had been principal of M a r t i n A c a d e m y f o r three years she tendered her resignation, which w a s reluctantly accepted by its Committee. She had w o r k e d h a r d and was worn with the exacting duties of an executive. A t once F r i e n d s ' C e n t r a l School, then at F i f t e e n t h and R a c e streets, Philadelphia, invited her to fill a vacancy in the boys' intermediate department. H e r e she would be situated where she could profit by the opportunities which a g r e a t city affords. She accepted the offer. E m m a W a l l a c e moved with her, going to the girls' intermediate department in the same school. J a n e ' s w a r m r e g a r d f o r Chester County F r i e n d s has never cooled, nor theirs f o r her. She has kept in close touch with a number of them and has o f t e n gone back to visit. W h e n L o n d o n G r o v e M e e t i n g held a celebration of its two hundredth anniversary in 1 9 1 4 , she w a s in the g r e a t company that o v e r f l o w e d the l a r g e meeting house and filled the grounds outside. L a t e r she w r o t e the f o r e w o r d to the printed record of the occasion, saying, A s we build o u r c o m m o n e v e r y d a y s into t h e s t r u c t u r e of an u n c h a n g i n g p a s t , w e are too close t o t h e w o r k t o see it in t r u e p e r s p e c t i v e , and each y e a r ' s w o r k s h o w s little c h a n g e in t h e c o m pleted w h o l e . O n l y as the y e a r s are piled c e n t u r y - h i g h c a n w e j u s t l y e s t i m a t e t h e i n f l u e n c e w h i c h goes out f r o m a M e e t i n g like this u p o n c o m m u n i t y life. . . . T h e lesson of each w o r t h y a n n i v e r s a r y is p r e - e m i n e n t l y t h a t it is w o r t h w h i l e t o c u l t i v a t e t h e s a m e v i r t u e s and the s a m e spirit in m a k i n g o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n to the w o r k of this g e n e r a t i o n t h a t , w o v e n i n t o the w a r p and woof of the h i s t o r y of t w o h u n d r e d y e a r s , m a k e s the c o n t e m p l a t i o n of the p a s t a p r e s e n t satisfaction.

F o r those coming a f t e r , she said that the best wish she could make was that they might " a b s o r b some degree of the m o r a l vigor, social earnestness and spiritual p o w e r which f o r two centuries have radiated f r o m this M e e t i n g through the two branches of F r i e n d s . "

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CHAPTER IV

Social Pleasures and a Social

Conscience

Friends' Central School provided Jane little scope f o r her kind of teaching. Pedagogy in the city schools was more formal in those days than the methods she had used in London Grove and Kennett. T h e r e was not much she could do about it f r o m the position she was in, and she felt herself a misfit. A f t e r one year she resigned. Still tired from the hard work at Kennett, she decided to take a year's rest. Since she was living in Philadelphia with Emma Wallace, who continued at Friends' Central, Jane went back to take classes f r o m time to time. But she was ready to stop teaching. Meanwhile, a few years earlier, a new enterprise of Friendly connection had caught her attention. H e r association with it, unofficial but close, was to last fifty years, and through it she was to meet socially many persons important in her later professional career. T h e undertaking began when H o w a r d M . Jenkins, editor of the Friends Intelligencer, had listened to the earnest pleading of Samuel E . Griscom that a pleasant summer resort f o r Friends could be built on some undeveloped land which he owned in M o n r o e County, P a . It was in the Pocono Mountains and there was a pretty trout stream running through it with a three-leap waterfall. H o w a r d Jenkins and his son Charles persuaded D r . William W . Speakman and H e n r y T . Paiste to join them and Samuel Griscom (all Race Street Yearly Meeting Friends) in incorporating the Buck Hill Falls Company and selling stock to more Philadelphia Quakers. It must be owned, however, that some of the conservative businessmen thought it a very doubtful 49

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investment and firmly r e f u s e d it. In 1 9 0 1 a small f r a m e inn w a s opened. T h e same summer a f e w simple, rather crude cottages g r o u p e d themselves on adjacent lots, although all were substantial enough to keep within the stricture of the by-law which provided that no house costing less than $ 5 0 0 should be erected in the settlement. A s a matter of f a c t the cost of the first one, including plumbing and painting, w a s almost $ 6 0 0 . A m o n g the earliest cottagers was Susan P . W h a r t o n , a niece of the J o s e p h W h a r t o n who subsequently endowed the W h a r t o n School of the U n i v e r s i t y of Pennsylvania. Susan W h a r t o n had enough faith in the new venture to believe that a sound use of some of her own r a t h e r slight resources might be to build two cottages f o r rent while she herself lived in a third. T h e founders were her f r i e n d s . So were the three men w h o in 1 9 0 2 joined the B o a r d of Directors : S. Robinson C o a l e of R i v e r t o n , N . J . ; M o r g a n Bunting of L a n s d o w n e , P a . , the architect of the Inn and soon the secretary-treasurer of the C o m p a n y ; and J o s e p h S. W a l t o n . A l l three were added to the B o a r d a f t e r the tragic death in October of H o w a r d J e n k i n s when he was carried over the F a l l s . Susan W h a r t o n trusted the judgment of these men and shared their enthusiasm. She was a w o m a n fertile in creative ideas and of enormous energy. She launched herself w h o l e h e a r t e d l y into the life of the settlement. She invited J a n e R u s h m o r e , whom she had known f o r years, to make the first of many visits to her cottage. T h e event p r o v e d to have a significant bearing on J a n e ' s future field of usefulness, f o r while the two congenial spirits enjoyed vacation pleasures they o f t e n talked of plans f o r winter w o r k . Summer activities were uppermost, however, at the beginning. One of Susan W h a r t o n ' s early acts w a s to start a N a t u r e Club which

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grew and flourished over a considerable period. T h e hostess now managed to rouse in her guest an interest in ferns. Whatever J a n e fixed her mind on she went into thoroughly, and soon she knew a great deal about these plants. One reason she liked them, she said, was because they grew in out-of-the-way places and climbing around to find them made entertaining excursions. T h e Nature Club had classes f o r adults, it organized bird walks, and especially it gave children happily occupied mornings during the years when "nature study" was a delightful new idea, as novel as having any organized amusement f o r children at a summer resort. B e f o r e long Susan Wharton had produced some other fruitful proposals. She founded the Music Club to give opportunity f o r cultural expansion. M a n y Friends did not know much about music; vacation time was a good occasion to learn more. Then, as she watched the rapidly growing community at Buck Hill becoming less simple and less Quakerly year by year, she conceived the plan of having a course of lectures every summer to study life f r o m the Friends' standpoint. T h u s in 1 9 2 4 came into being the Foxhowe Association which has been ever since a popular and honored institution. M a n y people have inquired about the name with which Susan Wharton endowed this enterprise. " F o x , " naturally, w a s taken f r o m the name of the founder of Quakerism, and " h o w e " is an old English word meaning, in place names, a small hill. N o reference was intended to M a t thew Arnold's home. T h e lively-minded originator of this association felt that people should not just vegetate in summer but should have intellectual exercise, so the Foxhowe programs were arranged with two weekday lectures plus one on Sunday

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evening. F o r the first two summers a succession of lecturers came, each f o r a week or ten days. T h e n in 1 9 2 6 A l e x a n d e r C. P u r d y , a p r o f e s s o r at H a r t f o r d T h e o l o g i c a l S e m i n a r y , a F r i e n d , and one w h o had taken p a r t in the earlier p r o g r a m s , w a s made the resident director, a position he has held ever since. H i s Bible class on one w e e k d a y morning has f r o m the start been a r e g u l a r f e a t u r e ; the other hours h a v e been set up v a r i o u s l y by him and the successive presidents of the association. D u r i n g these y e a r s J a n e R u s h m o r e took p a r t o f t e n as discussion l e a d e r and s e v e r a l times as a lecturer at the m o r n i n g g a t h e r i n g s in the E a s t R o o m , speaking on such subjects as education, democracy, the necessity f o r keeping sane ( d u r i n g the w a r y e a r s ) , and most recently on howmodern poets look at l i f e . D r . P u r d y has r e m a r k e d of her lectures: " H e r r e m a r k a b l e clarity and economy of speech and the sanity yet fearlessness of her thought together with a g i f t f o r concrete as against abstract expression m a d e her w o r d s m e m o r a b l e . " A m o n g the lecturers of the first two summers was the head of the D e p a r t m e n t of Biblical L i t e r a t u r e at E a r l h a m College, a F r i e n d s ' minister n a m e d Clarence E . Pickett. In 1 9 2 6 he and his w i f e were m a d e host and hostess of the International H o u s e at Buck H i l l , a cottage built by M a r i e C. J e n k i n s f o r f o r e i g n guests and so used f o r a number of y e a r s . Clarence and L i l l y Pickett returned each summer through 1 9 2 9 . T h e i r presence at Buck H i l l brought them f o r the first time to the attention of eastern F r i e n d s , especially some w h o were looking f o r a new secr e t a r y f o r the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s Service C o m m i t t e e . T h e introduction p r o v e d to be one of notable importance. E v e n b e f o r e the F o x h o w e A s s o c i a t i o n had made its religious contribution to the settlement, there w a s already

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established the regular Sunday meeting f o r worship. F r o m the first Sunday the Inn was open to the present, without interruption, a short Friends' meeting has been held. In the first years everyone attended, including all the employees, both colored and white. T h e meeting has no status in any official body; it is entirely under the charge of the B o a r d of Directors of the Company. H e l d in the largest room in the Inn, it has continued f o r fifty years to be one of the most sought out events at Buck Hill, at the height of the season often not only filling all available chairs and window ledges, but having a f a i r number of standees. F o r many guests it is their introduction to the Quaker way of worship. In a row of arm chairs facing the room sit such members of the B o a r d as are in residence and a f e w other invited persons. On occasions when Charles Jenkins found J a n e Rushmore arriving f o r the service he usually asked her to join the group at the front. Often J a n e demurred. " I direct thee to sit right there in the chair next to mine," said the not-to-be-denied man, and J a n e complied. Whether in that chair or any other she often helped to present to the gathering in an acceptable way the basic Quaker message. F o r years the most regular of these figures heading the meeting has been Charles N . Thompson, who came in 1 9 0 7 to be general manager of the settlement and is now a director in the Company. A s a boy growing up in Chester County he started working in R o b e r t L . Pyle's store, where he was well known to J a n e Rushmore and to all the local Friends. Some of them probably suggested him to the George School Committee, f o r when he was barely twenty-one years old he was appointed treasurer, bookkeeper, and purchasing agent f o r that school. During the eight years he was there he met emergencies with abound53

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ing r e s o u r c e s a n d e n e r g y , w h e t h e r the occasion w a s the cutting off of all the lights by the N e w t o w n P o w e r C o m p a n y o r the a b r u p t d e p a r t u r e of the c o o k . M o r e than once he w o r e the c h e f ' s cap a n d f e d the school. H e thus a l r e a d y k n e w S. R o b i n s o n C o a l e , a m e m b e r of the school c o m m i t tee, w h e n the B u c k H i l l F a l l s C o m p a n y w a s l o o k i n g f o r a successor to R o b e r t B e n s o n . O t h e r s of his G e o r g e S c h o o l f r i e n d s he f o u n d in the s u m m e r colony at B u c k H i l l . I n the succeeding y e a r s he h a s h a d a l a r g e s h a r e in its d e v e l o p m e n t into the i m m e n s e l y s u c c e s s f u l r e s o r t it n o w is. E x hibiting g r e a t i m a g i n a t i o n a n d v i g o r in c a r r y i n g out newp l a n s , he h a s at the s a m e time been sensitive to the p r e s e r v a t i o n of the simple, f r i e n d l y , c o u r t e o u s a t m o s p h e r e t h a t h a s s o m e h o w r e m a i n e d p e r s o n a l in spite of the e v e r inc r e a s i n g size of the settlement. I n the m o r e i n t i m a t e d a y s of its b e g i n n i n g s , one of the unique f e a t u r e s of the B u c k H i l l s u m m e r w a s the F o u r t h of J u l y c e l e b r a t i o n . T h e d a y b e g a n with a flag-raising at 9 A.M. T h e n the y o u n g p e o p l e w e n t into c o m p e t i t i v e r o u n d s of s p o r t s w h i l e the children w e r e h e r d e d d o w n t o a m e a d o w by a s m a l l lake, w h e r e they i n d u l g e d in firec r a c k e r s and noise to t h e i r h e a r t s ' content. A t t h a t time no one h a d d r e a m e d of d e p r i v i n g children of firecrackers, a n d a noiseless F o u r t h w o u l d h a v e been g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d as d e f r a u d i n g the d a y of its p r o p e r h o n o r . B u t this h o t e l w a s set in w o o d l a n d w h e r e f o r e s t fires w e r e an e v e r p r e s e n t m e n a c e . F o r the s a f e t y of the settlement a n e w scheme h a d to be i n v e n t e d to s a t i s f y the c h i l d r e n . H e r e , then, w a s i n a u g u r a t e d p r o b a b l y the first, c e r t a i n l y one of the e a r l i e s t , practices of a s a f e and sane F o u r t h . T h e o l d e r g u e s t s at the Inn w e r e u n d i s t u r b e d , the children w e r e h a p p y in their r e m o t e a n d s u p e r v i s e d r a c k e t , a n d e v e r y o n e l i k e d the i n n o v a t i o n .

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A t dusk, with all the guests assembled in f r o n t of the Inn, C h a r l e s Jenkins gave out the a w a r d s to winners of the sports events, sometimes with a prize like a brass baggage check, and a rhyme. T h e day ended with a lantern parade. Since there w a s no electricity, every cottager had a supply of candle or oil lanterns. On the F o u r t h the householders were ranged at the Inn by o r d e r of the building of their cottages, and they marched along the paths making a charming sight f r o m the porches as the lights flickered among the trees. L a t e r , a f t e r the auditorium was built, the evening exercises always included the " R o l l Call of the S i g n e r s . " H i m s e l f an expert on the signers of the Declaration of Independence, C h a r l e s J e n k i n s offered a genuine a u t o g r a p h of a signer to any child under twelve who could recite all their names correctly. N o matter how many children turned up to rattle off the list, he continued his g i f t s as long as he lived. I f by any infrequent chance he w a s absent, his place as master of ceremonies w a s taken by D r . W i l l i a m W . Speakman, whose g i f t f o r jokes and wisecracks m a d e any event that he m a n a g e d uproarious fun. A s J a n e R u s h m o r e watched the inexhaustible flow of ideas C h a r l e s J e n k i n s produced or p r o m o t e d f o r the entertainment of guests in the early years of Buck H i l l , she f o u n d herself becoming better and better acquainted with the man w h o w a s a rising leader in the Society of Friends and with whom she w a s later to have active association in the a f f a i r s of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . In 1 9 0 2 he had f o l l o w e d his f a t h e r as president of the B u c k H i l l F a l l s C o m p a n y . F o r forty-nine y e a r s t h e r e a f t e r the g o o d judgment, financial ability, and steady hand of C h a r l e s F . J e n k i n s w e r e the chief guide and reliance of the r a p i d l y g r o w i n g business. T h i s remarkable man h a d a r a n g e of activity that f e w equal. H i s successful business

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was the publication of the Farm Journal, which became a leading f a r m paper in the United States. But this profession could not possibly contain the measure of his creative energy. Some of his vitality was absorbed by his Friendly connections. H e was, f o r instance, clerk of Green Street M o n t h l y M e e t i n g f o r forty-two years, the first treasurer of the American Friends Service Committee, f o r forty years a member of the editorial board of the Friends Intelligencer. Devotion to early American history and to historic Germantown brought him into active participation in the Friends Historical Association, the Germantown Historical Society, and the Historical Society of Pennsylv a n i a — o f all of which he was at different times president — a n d stimulated his writing of several books on historical subjects. Although he had not had the opportunity to attend college himself, Swarthmore made him first a member and then president of its B o a r d of M a n a g e r s and granted him honorary membership in Phi Beta K a p p a and an honorary M a s t e r ' s degree, to which honors were added Doctor of L a w s degrees f r o m H a v e r f o r d and the University of Pennsylvania. T h e boards on which he served as a director, f r o m the Provident T r u s t Company and important civic activities to obscure charities, all receiving alike his alert attention, are too numerous to list. A t his home he established a horticulturally important hemlock arboretum where all nine species of hemlocks are growing as well as many varieties of other trees. H i s efforts were largely responsible f o r the adoption of the hemlock as the state tree of Pennsylvania. H i s death in J u l y 1 9 5 1 stilled a dynamo that had provided power f o r almost innumerable enterprises. In August of the same year a long-planned ceremony took place at Buck H i l l Falls. T h e Company dedicated as " J e n k i n s W o o d s " a fine remnant of primeval

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forest standing on the north slope of Buck H i l l between the Inn and the Falls, a beautiful and fitting memorial to H o w a r d M . Jenkins and his son, C h a r l e s F . Jenkins. Of all the younger man's interests, Buck H i l l was probably nearest his heart. H e took his able share in directing not only the fundamental social and financial policies of the C o m p a n y but those which would f o r w a r d Friendly interests. A n example of the last was the series of L a b o r D a y sport competitions with Pocono M a n o r a f t e r that Quaker r i v a l hotel was built in 1 9 0 2 by a group of A r c h Street F r i e n d s . T e a m s , made up of guests, traveled f r o m one resort to the other, making the most of their skills. T h e high-spirited f u n of these occasions certainly had some p a r t in breaking down the b a r s between Hicksite and O r t h o d o x clans, a matter that rested heavily on C h a r l e s J e n k i n s ' conscience. Straight through f r o m its simplest beginnings Buck H i l l had in its president the most genial, cordial, open-hearted host any resort could ask f o r , one who liked people and wanted them to enjoy themselves and each other. D u r i n g the first y e a r s at the close of Sunday meeting he would take a rustic staff, gather all the guests, J a n e R u s h m o r e at least once among them, and lead them on a walk to the F a l l s , pointing out fine hemlocks, telling stories about the neighborhood, and offering bits of nature lore on this delightful pre-prandial tour. A l w a y s his f e r t i l e brain w a s bringing out something new. A guest still remembers the evening when one of the Shetland ponies he w a s raising at the time was led onto the lawn near the Inn porch where it was auctioned off with lively bidding f o r the benefit of the current charity. A s soon as the bidding stopped and the money was paid, the winner would say that the f e e d cost too much or give some other excuse and the animal w a s put up again f o r new bids. T h e

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guests had superb enjoyment of the show, the cause benefited, and whether the pony ever really changed hands is lost in the mists of time. Children were welcomed and their s a f e t y w a s the first consideration. W h e n automobiles first began to a p p e a r on the roads they w e r e forbidden in the settlement. I f a cottager must bring an invalid or heavy equipment to his home, a permit was obtained and a bellboy stood on the running b o a r d to insure caution. C h a r l e s T h o m p s o n recalls a b o a r d meeting in 1 9 0 7 when half an hour w a s spent considering whether or not to enlarge the Inn's g a r a g e . It already accommodated two cars. Finally it w a s decided to double the capacity so that the matter w o u l d be settled permanently. M o s t of the early leaders at Buck H i l l J a n e R u s h m o r e soon met if she did not already know them. She shared in the active social visiting in the cottages and at the Inn, especially on Sundays between meeting and dinner. She went to the big annual receptions at the J e n k i n s home. She took part in the intellectual activities. P e o p l e all through the settlement were quickly made acquainted. It was one of J a n e ' s long-time friends w h o suggested a plan f o r increasing the Q u a k e r leaven in the community. J o s e p h S. W a l t o n , well known among F r i e n d s as an educator and a director of the Buck H i l l F a l l s C o m p a n y , was a man of many ideas. H e saw the Inn becoming too high in price f o r some of the Friends who originally enjoyed it. H e proposed a new building, simply constructed and f u r nished, where much less expensive accommodation could be had. It was erected on the slope below the Inn and named Griscom H a l l a f t e r the earlier owner of the property. Only Friends may own stock in the Association which built the H a l l and many of them p a t r o n i z e d it at once.

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For all the guests, however, the living is moderate in cost while they have access to the advantages of the whole settlement. J a n e Rushmore served briefly as one of Griscom H a l l ' s directors. Among the supporters of the Foxhowe lectures, of the several clubs, and of the community enterprises, she found that patrons of this hostelry were conspicuously loyal. An important piece of work in the early years was the laying out and actual building or improving of the first footpaths to the Falls and through the settlement. T h i s was taken up as his special pursuit by Henry Gawthrop, who spent the whole season at his cottage and who became a director in 1904. H e was out on the land almost the summer long. A t the same time his wife devoted much of her time and frail strength to the Greenleaf Library, a pleasant room built of logs at the corner of the Inn, with a growing number of books to loan. T h e kind of interest evinced in such ways as this by many individuals subsequently found expression in the activities of the L o t and Cottage Owners Association which now embraces about all the enterprises conducted at Buck Hill. J a n e ' s hostess of numerous vacations, Susan Wharton, as a stockholder and as a summer resident, followed every development at Buck H i l l with intense interest. H e r photograph hangs in the Greenleaf L i b r a r y along with those of the early directors. With great satisfaction she saw that the growth of the Inn made the settlement a valued asset in the countryside. T h e building of cottages and the services required by the Inn soon gave year-round employment to many whose living had been rather cramped before. T h e Barrett Township F a i r on Buck Hill grounds became an event important to both guests and permanent residents. T h e Barrett Friendly Library, a public library at the 59

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nearby village of M o u n t a i n H o m e , w a s built with F a i r money aided by the contributed l a b o r of local artisans. C h a r l e s J e n k i n s ' A y r e s h i r e cattle g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d the stock of the f a r m e r s in the county. B e t w e e n the Inn and the township there is a cooperative a r r a n g e m e n t whereby the B a r r e t t V o l u n t e e r F i r e C o m p a n y stores its equipment on the Inn p r o p e r t y and those w h o man it are d r a w n f r o m both sources. W i t h all these i m p r o v i n g relationships Susan W h a r t o n w a s in g r e a t sympathy, f o r she w a s a F r i e n d with a social conscience that reached out to her community. A n o t h e r well-known figure of Buck H i l l ' s first decade and a h a l f , also touched by a social conscience, w a s that of M a r t h a Schofield, one of the courageous women f r o m the northern states w h o at the close of the Civil W a r had gone into the South to b r i n g some opportunity f o r education to the N e g r o e s . U n d i s m a y e d by immense difficulties, she had succeeded in building up at A i k e n , S. C., a l a r g e day and b o a r d i n g school which has put hundreds, indeed by now thousands, of trained young people into g o o d vocations. W h e n one of the g r a d u a t e s of Schofield School became the first colored w o m a n doctor in the country there was rejoicing. M a r t h a Schofield's f r i e n d s w e r e legion throughout her a d o p t e d community, which she s e r v e d f o r fifty y e a r s . A birthright m e m b e r of R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t ing, she f o u n d her summers at Buck H i l l r e f r e s h i n g and congenial. T h e r e she w a s able to present the needs of her enterprise so successfully that f o r m a n y years, and even f o r some time a f t e r her death in 1 9 1 6 , the proceeds of an annual Buck H i l l F a i r (not the later B a r r e t t T o w n ship F a i r ) w e r e entirely devoted to lier w o r k in South C a r o l i n a . O l d e r than Susan W h a r t o n , M a r t h a Schofield preceded her in original w o r k f o r the underprivileged, to whose need both w o m e n devoted most of their lives.

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G r e a t as was Susan W h a r t o n ' s interest in all that made the surroundings of her summer home, her winter occupation was the center of her life and of her social concern in her most active years. Some time b e f o r e Jane Rushmore came to Philadelphia this friend of hers had seen the condition of many South Philadelphia families and decided she must do something about it. So she had started w h a t she called Starr Center at Sixth and L o m b a r d streets, primarily f o r the distribution of coal and milk. She used to say, " I haven't a philanthropic bone in my body, but these people are being c h e a t e d . " She meant that the poor w h o could buy coal only by the bucket w e r e being charged an exorbitant price instead of being able to procure it in the most economical w a y . She put into operation a scheme of purchasing coal at the mines, persuading dealers to store it at a small price, and then selling it by the quarter- or half-ton on orders sent in by the C e n t e r to families w h o accumulated the price by penny savings. In somewhat the same w a y milk f o r babies w a s obtained f r o m the M o d i f i e d M i l k Society and sold to mothers. T h e families collected their money f o r these expenses by stamp books issued by a small neighborhood penny-savings bank started by T h e o dore Starr and bearing his name. T h e bank g a v e out the cards or b o o k s ; the stamps to g o on them were sold by the visitors f r o m S t a r r Center, which also t o o k its name f r o m the bank's founder. T h e Center in addition operated a library and a kindergarten, its only f r e e services. W h e n Jane R u s h m o r e w a s visiting her friend Susan W h a r t o n at Buck H i l l in the summer of 1905, the latter explained her need o f a new executive secretary f o r the Center and asked Jane if she would take the job. Jane thought she might like to, but said she must look into it in her own w a y first. So she returned to Philadelphia to visit 61

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the scene, announcing to the staff merely that she might be interested in w o r k i n g there. She went through each dep a r t m e n t , asking the various staff members to explain just how their different branches worked and accompanying the visitors for several d a y s on their rounds. A f t e r a thorough examination she w a s ready to accept the position, though doubtful of success in a field for which she h a d received no special training. Susan W h a r t o n w a s herself at S t a r r Center almost every d a y . She lived f u r t h e r uptown, on Clinton Street, and M a r y Richmond, then general director of the Associated Charities of Philadelphia, lived with her. M i s s Richmond's advice w a s very much v a l u e d ; the two women t a l k e d over the problems of S t a r r Center together, though Susan W h a r t o n h a d no need of being pushed along by anyone else. She h a d an enormous store of energy and v i g o r . She would, as her cousin-in-law, Dr. W a l t e r M e n delson, said of her, unhesitatingly attempt the impossible and somehow succeed. She would have accomplished even more than she did if she h a d had some business training. J a n e found almost her first task to be that of bringing order into the business transactions. She spent many hours going over the coal and milk accounts, which were tedious and trying but were the core of the enterprise. A f t e r a time the office of treasu r e r w a s assumed by T h o m a s S. Gates, later president of the U n i v e r s i t y of Pennsylvania. Every month he went c a r e f u l l y over the previous month's expenditures and the balances in the bank, and then drew a check for the projected payments of the next month. J a n e had p r e p a r e d the figures and went over them with him, gaining business experience that w a s to be very valuable to her later. A n excellent b o a r d of trustees had been built up, chaired 62

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by Charles E. Pancoast, president of the Guarantee Trust Company. From him as well as from T h o m a s Gates the executive secretary learned a good deal about investments. She was impressed, too, with the way M r . Pancoast conducted the board meetings. T h e r e were no Friends on the board except herself, Susan W h a r t o n , and Esther Morton Smith, yet as each subject came up it was thoroughly discussed all around the table, everyone was consulted, and when the board was pretty much a unit in its decision the president would call for a motion almost as a Friends' clerk would frame a minute of the sense of the meeting. The minutes were kept by Jane, so she was very much aware of the procedure. All the board appreciated Susan Wharton's vision and her habit of thinking things through. They supported her well. T o finance the work of the Center, Susan Wharton had developed a long subscription list. W h i l e the basic principle of the settlement was to have the neighbors save to pay for what they received and so form habits of thrift, of course they did not actually pay the full cost of the services, which had to be met by donations. A clerk was installed who made lists and kept files of contributors. J a n e took over the writing of the appeal letters. She was interested to observe that it was often the fifth letter to the same person that brought the response. T h e r e were some large donors whose gifts made possible certain specific projects. Such a giver was Dr. George W o o d w a r d of Chestnut Hill, who had built a model tenement nearby, the Casa Novello. H e established a milk station on its first floor which was operated by the Starr Center but financed entirely by Dr. W o o d w a r d . J a n e soon discovered that the milk distribution was not sufficiently regulated. Mothers had been buying the modi-

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fied milk a c c o r d i n g to their o w n ideas of t h e i r babies' need a n d t h e i r own ability to pay. J a n e suggested h a v i n g a d o c t o r come to p u t m a t t e r s on a b e t t e r basis. D r . W i l l i a m W . C a d b u r y , a f t e r w a r d a F r i e n d s ' m i s s i o n a r y to China, s e r v e d in this w a y f o r a b o u t t h r e e years, examining the m o t h e r s and babies, prescribing the f o r m u l a s and the h o u r s of f e e d i n g . T h e m o t h e r s w e r e n o t allowed to buy the milk until they h a d h a d this e x a m i n a t i o n . Since m o s t of the w o m e n could n o t c o m p a s s a time schedule w i t h o u t help, each w a s given a picture of a clock with bottles h u n g on the p r o p e r h o u r s f o r f e e d i n g . Visitors, c a r e f u l l y supervised, called a t local homes, sold savings s t a m p s , listened to f a m i l y troubles, and sometimes g a v e advice. Some t w o to t h r e e h u n d r e d people b e l o n g e d to the C o a l Club. T h e r e w e r e also a g o o d numb e r in t h e R a i n y D a y Society, w h o s e e m b l e m was the picture of an u m b r e l l a on the card, a n d w h o s e savings w e r e to p r o v i d e d o c t o r ' s fees a n d medicine in case of illness. A t the end of the y e a r if the m o n e y h a d n o t been used f o r sickness it was r e p a i d to the m e m b e r . I t did n o t need l o n g acquaintance with the district f o r Susan W h a r t o n to discover t h a t m a n y school children h a d no b r e a k f a s t . T h e r e u p o n she devised a plan of cheap lunches sold at a few schools. T h i s was really the beginning of penny lunches in the city of P h i l a d e l p h i a . W h e n J a n e l o o k e d into this d e p a r t m e n t she saw t h a t the f o o d being sold to the children w a s n o t very sensible, so she f o u n d a dietitian just g r a d u a t e d f r o m D r e x e l I n s t i t u t e w h o t h e r e a f t e r m a d e out the o r d e r s f o r w h a t should be offered. W i l l i n g to come w i t h o u t salary f o r the experience, this y o u n g w o m a n , Alice B o u g h t o n , subsequently o r g a n i z e d the school lunch system f o r the public schools of Philadelp h i a . M r . H e n r y H . Bonnell, a m e m b e r of the C e n t e r ' s

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board who took special interest in this project, made a large contribution to the salary of the lunch dispenser. Another prominent Philadelphian who served on the board and took an active part in all that went on was S. Rowland M o r g a n , a man of much graciousness of manner and one genuinely devoted to the service of those with few advantages or in distress. Jane insists that all the ideas for this day settlement were Susan Wharton's. But it was J a n e who made the ideas work, who supplied continuity, and who kept the financial base sound. It was excellent training in organization as well, for by the end of her service of six years there were seventeen workers on the staff. A t that time Susan W h a r t o n had become less active, and J a n e was being pressed to accept another position. T h e years of living in Philadelphia while she taught at Friends' Central and worked at Starr Center gave to J a n e Rushmore and also to Emma W a l l a c e an opportunity to indulge their insatiable thirst for knowledge. A large city provided opportunities not available before. For instance, they enrolled at the W a g n e r Institute for courses in electricity and sound. T h e y found most of their fellow students to be in the electrical trades, and while the class w a s large, very few of them, and no other women, turned up for the examination at the end of the course. M o r e conventional than courses in electricity were those on Saturday mornings at the University of Pennsylvania, where J a n e studied mathematics and Latin while Emma W a l l a c e took German. Before this, while she was still teaching, J a n e had already enjoyed various summer schools, one operated at Huntingdon, Pa., by Joseph W a l t o n and M a r t i n Brumbaugh, and another at the Oswego, Ν. Y., School of Lan-

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g u a g e s u n d e r D r . S a u v e u r . A t the l a t t e r J a n e d e v o t e d h e r s e l f to G e r m a n in one of the v e r y e a r l y e x p e r i m e n t s with the n a t u r a l m e t h o d . O n l y G e r m a n w a s s p o k e n a n d h e a r d in class, in the b o a r d i n g h o u s e , and in c h a p e l . T h e students w e n t to five classes e v e r y d a y , with a d i f f e r e n t m a n t e a c h i n g each h o u r . T h i s course h a d m a d e it p o s s i b l e f o r J a n e to p r e p a r e h e r o w n pupils f o r c o l l e g e e n t r a n c e exa m i n a t i o n s in G e r m a n . W h e r e v e r she w a s , J a n e a l w a y s f o u n d the sources of intellectual stimulus. H e r a l e r t m i n d s e i z e d upon e v e r y new field that c a m e w i t h i n h e r r a n g e . She h a d l i v e d the first h a l f of h e r l i f e a d d i n g to h e r k n o w l e d g e , h e r t r a i n i n g , her a c q u a i n t a n c e , h e r e x p e r i e n c e . S h e h a d been an o u t s t a n d i n g t e a c h e r in C h e s t e r C o u n t y a n d a c o m p e t e n t executive in P h i l a d e l p h i a . S h e w a s alr e a d y m a r k e d as a w o m a n of unusual a b i l i t y . B u t she h a d n o t s t r e t c h e d h e r capacities to t h e i r f u l l e s t e x t e n t , n o r h a d she f o u n d the a r e a in which she could f u n c t i o n at the t o p of h e r p o w e r s . She w a s not consciously s e e k i n g an o p p o r tunity to m a k e the best use of the t e m p e r e d i n s t r u m e n t h e r m i n d h a d b e c o m e . W h e n the o p e n i n g a p p e a r e d , she did not i m m e d i a t e l y r e c o g n i z e it in the p r o p o s a l that she bec o m e s e c r e t a r y of the new F r i e n d s C e n t r a l B u r e a u . S h e w a s f a v o r a b l y inclined t o w a r d it, h o w e v e r , because of a l o n g experience, g o i n g back m o r e than fifteen y e a r s , as a v o l u n t a r y p a r t n e r in a n o t h e r e x p e r i m e n t begun by h e r r e l i g i o u s society. T h i s e x p e r i m e n t h a d by 1 9 0 0 d e v e l o p e d into the F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e .

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CHAPTER V

Seven Yearly Meetings at Work Together Friends did not begin to stir into new manifestations of life f o r a generation a f t e r the numbing effect of the 1 8 2 7 Separation. T h e need which then g a l v a n i z e d the Hicksite g r o u p into motion was that of religious instruction f o r their children. H e r e and there an attempt was made to start a F i r s t - d a y school. Sometimes it was the isolated effort of a single person who f e l t that in a religious society w h e r e definite instruction w a s not a p a r t of the f o r m of worship, children should have something to replace the f o r m e r l y m o r e common f a m i l y religious meetings and f a m i l y Bible readings. T h e impetus once given, the development of classes and organization began to spread. In a number of places the old feeling persisted that F i r s t - d a y schools w e r e " c r e a t u r e l y activity," G o d alone being able to g i v e understanding of the Scripture. One by one, h o w e v e r , the various Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s granted official recognition of the new institution. R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , the last to do so, withheld until 1 8 8 4 its f o r m a l a p p r o v a l , although First-day schools had been appearing in its bailiwick ever since the first three had been set up. T h e s e w e r e at R e a d i n g , P a . , in 1 8 5 9 , at G e r m a n t o w n in i 8 6 0 , neither of which was continuous, and then at G r e e n Street, Philadelphia, in 1 8 6 1 . F i r s t - d a y school unions also g r e w up, each embracing the schools of a f a i r l y wide a r e a , usually that of the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g . T h e s e unions soon became established within R a c e Street boundaries also. In 1 8 6 7 E l i M . L a m b , principal of B a l t i m o r e Friends School, w a s the leading spirit in bringing together a num67

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b e r of F r i e n d s at W e s t C h e s t e r , P a . , to c o n s i d e r m e t h o d s of i m p r o v i n g r e l i g i o u s t e a c h i n g . A s a result, a g e n e r a l F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l C o n f e r e n c e w a s h e l d in P h i l a d e l p h i a the f o l l o w i n g y e a r . U n i o n s of all the seven H i c k s i t e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s were represented. T h a t conference w a s fruitful e n o u g h f o r its p r o m o t e r s to institute r e g u l a r a n n u a l g a t h e r i n g s w h i c h m e t a l m o s t w i t h o u t a b r e a k until 1 8 8 2 , w h e n t h e y e n t e r e d a n e w p h a s e . E l i L a m b ' s idea w a s a c t u a l l y the s m a l l s p r i n g w h o s e i n c r e a s i n g w a t e r s w e r e t o b e c o m e m o r e t h a n t h i r t y y e a r s l a t e r the f u l l - f l o w i n g r i v e r of Friends General Conference. V i g o r w a s g i v e n to the y o u n g m o v e m e n t by the g r e a t n e e d f o r lesson h e l p s . A l t h o u g h lessons put out by o t h e r d e n o m i n a t i o n s w e r e o f t e n u s e d , it w a s soon d i s c o v e r e d that inexperienced volunteer teachers needed printed mat e r i a l w r i t t e n e s p e c i a l l y f o r F r i e n d s . T h e f a c t t h a t the e a r l y F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l C o n f e r e n c e s h a d a specific f u n c t i o n in p r o d u c i n g this m a t t e r g a v e t h e m s t a b i l i t y f r o m the s t a r t . B y the e n d o f the s e v e n t i e s a n o t h e r concern w a s g r o w ing up, e s p e c i a l l y in I l l i n o i s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p of J o n a t h a n W . P l u m m e r . T h i s C h i c a g o m e r c h a n t w a s an a c t i v e F r i e n d w h o h a d h e l p e d to c r e a t e I l l i n o i s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in 1 8 7 5 . * B e c a u s e H i c k s i t e F r i e n d s w e r e not e v a n g e l i s t i c the g r e a t w a v e of i n t e r e s t in f o r e i g n m i s s i o n a r y e n t e r p r i s e h a d b y - p a s s e d t h e m , but, to a c e r t a i n d e g r e e t a k i n g its p l a c e , t h e r e d e v e l o p e d a s t r o n g conscience a b o u t s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s in local comm u n i t i e s . S o m e t i m e s l o c a l a s s o c i a t i o n s w e r e set up outside the d i r e c t j u r i s d i c t i o n of the S o c i e t y of F r i e n d s , t h o u g h c o m p o s e d l a r g e l y of its m e m b e r s ; s o m e t i m e s c o m m i t t e e s w e r e f o r m e d u n d e r a M o n t h l y M e e t i n g . W h e n the l a t t e r * Cf. Albert T . Mills, " J o n a t h a n ( P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1943), p p . 174 ff.

W.

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course was taken the g r o u p assumed the f o r m i d a b l e name of Committee on P h i l a n t h r o p i c L a b o r , and the activities were various. Some committees only a p p r o p r i a t e d money to civic undertakings, but m o r e o f t e n special w o r k in prisons, settlements, f o r Indians, temperance, and other causes w a s taken up. J o n a t h a n P l u m m e r w a s one of those particularly uneasy at the national g o v e r n m e n t ' s treatment of A m e r i c a n Indians, at the lack of training facilities f o r N e g r o e s , and at the denial of v o t i n g and other rights to women. A f t e r the F i r s t - d a y School C o n f e r e n c e of 1 8 6 8 he began thinking of a m o r e comprehensive g a t h e r ing to cover the social concerns of F r i e n d s . L a r g e l y because of his persuasion Illinois Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in 1 8 7 8 sent an epistle to the other H i c k s i t e g r o u p s p r o p o s i n g such a g e n e r a l conference. Action w a s not precipitous. B u t i n 1 8 8 1 representatives of three of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s — B a l t i m o r e , Ohio, and I l l i n o i s — c a m e t o g e t h e r in S a l e m , O h i o , to o r g a n i z e the F r i e n d s U n i o n f o r P h i l a n t h r o p i c L a b o r . I t met in W a y n e s ville, Ohio, the next y e a r , immediately f o l l o w i n g the F i r s t day School C o n f e r e n c e . A l l local M o n t h l y M e e t i n g s w e r e asked to send in r e g u l a r r e p o r t s to this and subsequent conferences. Of course some localities w e r e much m o r e active than others, but the existence of the U n i o n and the necessity f o r m a k i n g reports p r o v e d an impetus f o r f u r t h e r work. Because many attendere w e r e interested in both religious education and philanthropy it became the practice to hold the two gatherings at the same place, one f o l l o w i n g directly a f t e r the other. T h e idea of holding these conferences only biennially a l s o g a i n e d f a v o r , and with some exceptions the pattern of meeting t o g e t h e r e v e r y other y e a r became fixed. In the eighties the total g r o u p w a s of 69

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such m o d e r a t e size that the visitors could be entertained in the homes of resident F r i e n d s . B y 1 8 9 2 , h o w e v e r , the numbers h a d increased so that the homes in L i n c o l n , V a . , the chosen meeting place, were severely taxed and a change of plan had to be m a d e , especially since f u r t h e r developments w e r e under w a y . W h e n the Columbia E x p o s i t i o n opened in C h i c a g o in 1 8 9 3 , g r e a t stimulus w a s given to some g r o u p s not directly connected with the W o r l d ' s F a i r but h a v i n g international ties. A m o n g them w a s a W o r l d P a r l i a m e n t of R e l i g i o n s , to which H o w a r d M . J e n k i n s w a s appointed to represent R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . H e f o u n d himself in a large g r o u p f r o m the U n i t e d States and C a n a d a at the sessions assigned to Q u a k e r s . J o n a t h a n P l u m m e r , chairm a n of the Hicksite section, g a v e an important a d d r e s s . T h i s early e f f o r t to bring the v a r i o u s denominations into some sort of w o r k i n g partnership w a s an inspiration to H o w a r d J e n k i n s , w h o came home full of the idea that at least the seven H i c k s i t e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s could get together at once. H e began active p r o m o t i o n of a g e n e r a l religious conference f o r all the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s to be held in 1 8 9 4 at the same time as the older two. Contemporaneously E d w a r d H . M a g i l l , then retired f r o m the presidency of S w a r t h m o r e C o l l e g e , w a s u r g i n g a c o n f e r ence on education as a concern in which F riends h a d been most active f r o m the beginning of their history. W i t h the prospect of convening at one place f o u r relatively independent groups (on F i r s t - d a y schools, p h i l a n t h r o p y , religion, and education) the planners obviously had to find a location with plenty of space. A large F r i e n d s ' b o a r d i n g school w a s chosen at C h a p p a q u a , N . Y . , f o r the 1 8 9 4 summer convocation. Friends a r r i v e d f r o m the seven Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s : Illi-

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nois, Indiana, and Ohio on the west; Genesee on the north ; New Y o r k , Philadelphia, and Baltimore on the east. T h e y overflowed the accommodations in the school building although cots had been lined up, dormitory fashion, in the attic. Tents were set up on the campus. Guests allotted to them found they made f o r pretty primitive living, with water leaking through when it rained and only a rope strung down the middle to hang clothes on. A m o n g those so berthed was J a n e Rushmore, who was making her first appearance at these occasions. She was a representative to the First-day School Conference f r o m N e w Y o r k . T h e program was just to all the interests which had set it up. T h e r e were four addresses of welcome, four chairmen, and at the end four adjournments. J a n e , as one of the younger members, often took a seat in the rear of the auditorium where it was sometimes difficult to hear. E d w a r d M a g i l l , already deaf, always sat on the platform bringing with him his long black metal ear trumpet. J a n e soon observed that when E d w a r d M a g i l l laid his trumpet on his lap nothing of importance was being said and she relaxed. T h e Y o u n g Friends Association of Philadelphia had also in 1 8 9 4 issued a call f o r an informal conference of young people at Chappaqua to arrange f o r organizing this group, and a large number were present. A t their first meeting f o r worship all the time was taken up by older Friends who seemed to enjoy speaking to a large audience of young persons. J a n e was a prime mover in arranging f o r a second meeting. Preparatory to it William M . Jackson, the presider, at the request of the young Friends announced that the presence of older Friends, and their silent participation, would be welcome. One of those admonished asked, " A r e n ' t you going to have any preach-

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i n g ? " and was confuted when J a n e replied, " O h , I didn't know Friends a r r a n g e d f o r that. D o t h e y ? " T w o years later S w a r t h m o r e College was selected as the site f o r the f o u r interests meeting together. T h i s w a s the last time that f r e e entertainment of visitors w a s undertaken. Philadelphia Friends raised $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 by subscription to meet the expenses, but such a cost was too g r e a t to undertake as a recurrent burden. F r o m then on attenders paid their own w a y . T h e S w a r t h m o r e group of conferences in 1 8 9 6 w a s the largest that had been held to date, because of the active w o r k of several leaders. J o n a t h a n W . P l u m m e r had f o u n d v e r y able collaboration f o r the many f o r m s of philanthropic pursuits. F r o m N e w Y o r k came J o h n W . H u t c h inson, a leader on parole and other legal aspects of imprisonment, and A n n a M . J a c k s o n w h o p o u r e d out energy in behalf of the colored people. D r . O . E d w a r d J a n n e y of B a l t i m o r e w a s a valiant crusader f o r " s o c i a l p u r i t y , " taking o v e r the mantle of that then almost unmentionable cause f r o m A a r o n M . Powell. T h e recording secretary of this C o n f e r e n c e was S a r a h W . M a t t h e w s , also of B a l t i m o r e . W i l l i a m W . B i r d s a l l , a rising educator in Philadelphia, joined E d w a r d H . M a g i l l in the new p r o g r a m of the E d u cation C o n f e r e n c e . W i l l i a m Birdsall, principal of the B o y s ' D e p a r t m e n t of Friends' Central School and later president of S w a r t h m o r e College, like E d w a r d M a g i l l had a Quakerly as well as a p r o f e s s i o n a l concern f o r education. J o s e p h A . B o g a r d u s of N e w Y o r k , E l i M . L a m b of Baltimore, E d w a r d C o a l e of Illinois, and R o b e r t M . J a n n e y of Philadelphia, all of them prominent in their own M e e t i n g s , took a large part in the consideration of religious teaching. 72

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A m o n g the attendere at S w a r t h m o r e was one whose presence w a s to have long consequences. J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m of E n g l a n d m a d e in 1 8 9 6 the first of his several trips to visit A m e r i c a n Friends. I t was almost unheard of f o r a Hicksite g a t h e r i n g to have a visit f r o m an English Q u a k e r . J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m intended to approach with an open mind all Q u a k e r groups in the U n i t e d States, hoping to bring the branches closer together. H e felt that L o n d o n , as the parent Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , had a responsibility to use its influence to heal the schisms that perhaps might not have taken place if E n g l i s h leaders had been more alert. H e had, h o w e v e r , no official support and came entirely under his own conscience. T h e Religious C o n f e r ence was g l a d when he a g r e e d to give two addresses, one on the A d u l t School movement conducted by English F r i e n d s , and one on a purely religious topic. U n f o r t u n a t e l y he w a s on the whole disappointed on this visit to find many Hicksites not very well educated, and as he traveled in the W e s t he w a s discouraged at the procedures of the F r i e n d s ' churches. N e v e r t h e l e s s he returned to this country on a number of subsequent occasions and became a most sympathetic counselor to the F r i e n d s of the liberal branch, as doubtless to other groups, making the sense of kinship with L o n d o n increasingly alive. T h e C o n f e r e n c e of 1 8 9 8 at Richmond, Ind., smaller than the previous one, made abundantly clear to everyone that the structure of f o u r separate unions w a s extremely cumbersome. Plans w e r e set up to unite the assembly at its next gathering, and in 1 9 0 0 , at Chautauqua, N . Y . , the groups met as a single body. J o n a t h a n P l u m m e r when he first f o u n d e d the U n i o n on Philanthropic L a b o r h a d a d v o c a t e d a general conference; now it had come about. In the new body the Religious C o n f e r e n c e w a s given up

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as a s e p a r a t e section since the c o m b i n i n g unions w e r e all f e l t t o be v a r y i n g e x p r e s s i o n s of the r e l i g i o u s c o n c e r n w h i c h w a s the essential e m p h a s i s of the w h o l e u n d e r t a k i n g . T h u s the three divisions of F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l , P h i l a n t h r o p i c L a b o r , and E d u c a t i o n b e c a m e the constituent p a r t s of the new Friends General Conference. Its f o r m a t i o n preceded by t w o y e a r s the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g , r e p r e s e n t i n g m o s t of the O r t h o d o x Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s in America. F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e w a s not p l a n n e d to be, a n d n e v e r h a s been, a s u p r a - M e e t i n g . I t h a s no a u t h o r i t y o v e r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . I t s f u n c t i o n is m u t u a l help, e n c o u r a g e m e n t , a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g . I t s g e n e r a l o r g a n i z i n g unit is the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of O n e H u n d r e d , a p p o i n t e d in f r a c t i o n s p r o p o r t i o n a t e to t h e i r size by all the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s except, in the b e g i n n i n g , P h i l a d e l p h i a , w h o s e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w e r e unofficial until 1 9 1 2 . M e m b e r s of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e n o w sit a l m o s t d a i l y d u r i n g the b i e n n i a l C o n f e r e n c e , m e e t f o r a w e e k in S e p t e m b e r in the a l t e r n a t i n g y e a r s , and h a v e o t h e r less r e g u l a r s e s s i o n s . T h e C o m m i t t e e a c t i v e l y directs the s e t t i n g up of the bie n n i a l m e e t i n g s , a p p o i n t i n g the s e v e r a l s u b c o m m i t t e e s f o r p r o g r a m , f o r a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h the h o s t city a n d its hotels, f o r r e c r e a t i o n , a n d all the o t h e r necessities i n v o l v e d in t a k i n g c a r e of a l a r g e n u m b e r of p e o p l e f o r a w e e k . T h e p u b l i c a t i o n of F i r s t - d a y school lessons a n d o t h e r r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n m a t e r i a l is s u p e r v i s e d by the C e n t r a l C o m m i t tee, w h i c h of course a l s o c o n t r o l s the b u d g e t a n d financing of the w h o l e C o n f e r e n c e . T w o y e a r s b e f o r e the f o r m a t i o n of the united C o n f e r ence t h e r e h a d a p p e a r e d at R i c h m o n d in 1 8 9 8 a n e w f a c e , a n d a n e w voice h a d s u r p r i s e d a n d s t i r r e d the g a t h e r i n g . T h e y b e l o n g e d to H e n r y W . W i l b u r , a m e m b e r of N e w

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Y o r k Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w h o h a d been a small-town newsp a p e r editor and printer. H e w a s a liberal of intense convictions. H e came to C h a u t a u q u a sure that the new united C o n f e r e n c e h a d g r e a t possibilities. E v e n it, h o w e v e r , w o u l d not alone be e n o u g h to hold off a slow death f o r the now diminishing Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . T h e Society o f F r i e n d s , he believed, h a d an unfulfilled mission to m a n y f o r w h o m its simple f a i t h w o u l d be a h e a l i n g and s t r e n g t h e n i n g experience. But F r i e n d s h a d an a v e r s i o n to p r o s e l y t i n g a n d h a d little skill i n t e r p r e t i n g their religious ideas to o t h e r s . H e w a s on fire to r e m e d y this state o f affairs. U n d e r his stimulation a new C o m m i t t e e f o r the A d v a n c e m e n t o f F r i e n d s ' Principles w a s a d d e d as a w o r k i n g unit by the C o n f e r e n c e of 1 9 0 0 w i t h H e n r y W i l b u r as c h a i r m a n . J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s also b e g i n n i n g to rise into p r o m i nence in the affairs o f the C o n f e r e n c e . V e r y e a r l y she s t a r t e d her l o n g list o f services to it. In turn she t o o k p a r t in the P h i l a n t h r o p i c , F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l , and E d u c a t i o n C o m m i t t e e s , the A d v a n c e m e n t C o m m i t t e e , and w a s m a n y times a m e m b e r o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e . She b e g a n in 1 8 9 8 as s e c r e t a r y o f the P h i l a n t h r o p i c . H e r e she s a w the r e p o r t s sent in b y Y e a r l y M e e t i n g U n i o n s on t h e i r d i v e r s e social e f f o r t s . T h e n u m b e r o f subjects w a s l o n g , f o r m a n y y e a r s including p r o p e r publications, t e m p e r a n c e , child w e l f a r e , t o b a c c o and o t h e r narcotics, I n d i a n affairs, c o l o r e d p e o p l e , g a m b l i n g , p r i s o n r e f o r m , c a p i t a l punishm e n t , peace, and social p u r i t y . T e m p e r a n c e w a s one o f the m o s t v i g o r o u s and w i d e s p r e a d o f the e a r l y activities, closely f o l l o w e d by w o r k a m o n g I n d i a n s , f o r w h i c h individual Meetings supported a number of agents w h o w o r k e d in the r e s e r v a t i o n s . A u g u s t u s B r o s i u s o f Penns y l v a n i a w a s one o f the w e l l - k n o w n men in this field. B e l i e f t h a t criminals c o u l d a n d s h o u l d be r e h a b i l i t a t e d w a s

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p a r t of Q u a k e r principle, and it took several f o r m s in the v a r i o u s M e e t i n g s — h a v i n g police matrons put in jails w h e r e w o m e n offenders w e r e held, w o r k i n g f o r parole, and seeking to reduce v e n g e f u l punishments. Peace between nations has never ceased to be one of the most ardently pursued efforts through all the y e a r s when interest in other topics rose and fell in slow undulations. In recent y e a r s the philanthropic concerns have been a r r a n g e d in three g r o u p s : E c o n o m i c Problems, Peace and W o r l d U n d e r s t a n d i n g , and Social O r d e r . T h e s e , together with E d u c a t i o n , R e l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n , and A d v a n c e m e n t , constitute the present six standing committees of F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e . T h e Committee on Economic Problems, appointed in 1 9 4 0 , has published a monthly or bimonthly Newsletter to sharpen the awareness of F r i e n d s to the connection between religion and economic f a c t o r s in the w o r l d . W o r k f o r peace has had a greatly enlarged place since the first W o r l d W a r . F o l l o w i n g several dev o t e d leaders, E s t h e r H o l m e s J o n e s , now chairman of the P e a c e C o m m i t t e e , is an accredited observer at the Social and E c o n o m i c Council of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , representing the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e ; she guides an unceasing stream of F r i e n d s and others to see the workings of that international b o d y ; she does a g r e a t deal of speaking on it bef o r e both F r i e n d s and outside groups. T h e Committee is a member of the N a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e and is represented on the F r i e n d s C o m m i t t e e on N a t i o n a l L e g i s l a t i o n . I t sends i n f o r m a t i o n to local M e e t i n g s on peace issues and it a r r a n g e s the biennial C o n f e r e n c e p r o g r a m on this subject. A f t e r a f e w y e a r s in the philanthropic w o r k of the Conference, J a n e R u s h m o r e m o v e d into the First-day school field. O v e r the whole half-century of C o n f e r e n c e history, 76

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the First-day School Committee, now called the Religious Education Committee, has been exceedingly active. It has kept up continuous publication. A s early as 1885 it had started to print and distribute First-day school lesson leaves, which by 1904 advanced to a regular graded series published quarterly and still continued, though in more modern form. By 1908 J a n e was named general secretary of the Conference First-day School Committee, an unpaid officer giving in her free time counseling to the schools. Very soon she saw the need f o r the Conference to reach the teachers with further assistance than the graded lessons. A f t e r the Friends Central Bureau began functioning she suggested that, with the facilities of the Bureau, a quarterly First-day School Bulletin be printed and circulated to all First-day school teachers in the Conference. Publication began in 1 9 1 6 . L a t e r called the Religious Education Bulletin, it has appeared regularly ever since, with a circulation in 1 9 5 2 of 1 4 0 0 . A s the singing of hymns in First-day schools became more common, J a n e proposed printing a small hymnal wherein the words would agree with the teaching of Friends and the music be dignified and beautiful. T h e idea was quickly approved, but there was no money. A t the close of the committee session where the matter had been discussed, William C. Biddle of Lansdowne, Pa., came to J a n e and asked how much such a book would cost. " I don't know," she said, "but perhaps a small volume of about thirty hymns, with music, might cost in the neighborhood of $ 8 0 0 . " William Biddle turned and brought E d w a r d Cornell of N e w Y o r k and Robert Roberts of Baltimore into the conversation. In a f e w minutes these three men had agreed to loan the necessary money. J a n e lost no time. T h e first little paper-bound book appeared

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in N o v e m b e r 1 9 1 9 . T h e edition sold out in three months with the b o r r o w e d money paid back and enough l e f t over f o r the second edition. E a c h edition since has been paid f o r by the proceeds of the previous one and has cost the Conference nothing. Feeling that printed m a t e r i a l alone w a s not sufficient help f o r First-day school teachers, Bliss F o r b u s h of Baltimore wanted to p r o m o t e definite leadership training in the Society of F r i e n d s f o r all w o r k in religious education. F o r this purpose he designed a correspondence course, asking J a n e R u s h m o r e ' s help. T h e first y e a r there was a g r e a t response. Bliss F o r b u s h took c h a r g e of the course on the Bible, and J a n e of the one on the Society of Friends. She read and corrected about a thousand p a p e r s , an unexpected burden a d d e d to her r e g u l a r tasks. A f t e r some time, when enthusiasm f o r correspondence courses died down, Bliss F o r b u s h d e v e l o p e d leadership training institutes which were held at C a m p K e e w a d i n , near A n n a polis, M d . , and later at Pendle H i l l , the F r i e n d s ' adult school at W a l l i n g f o r d , P a . W h e n he no l o n g e r had time to carry so much responsibility f o r the institutes they w e r e given up, but other activities at Pendle H i l l have to a large extent taken their place. Still another enterprise of religious education under the aegis of the C o n f e r e n c e w a s a series of summer schools. T h e first one of these, the idea of J o s e p h S. W a l t o n and J e s s e H . H o l m e s , took place in 1 9 0 3 at B u c k H i l l F a l l s . Buck H i l l had opened only t w o y e a r s b e f o r e . M a n y Friends were e a g e r to see it, the Inn m a d e special rates f o r f o o d , cottagers o f f e r e d r o o m s . F o r t y to f i f t y persons attended and were given an excellent p r o g r a m f o r a week. A t a second " F i r s t - d a y School A s s e m b l y " at Buck H i l l in 1 9 0 5 G e o r g e A . B a r t o n of B r y n M a w r C o l l e g e and W i l -

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liam W a l l a c e Fenn of H a r v a r d lectured, Jesse H o l m e s led classes on social concerns, and J o s e p h W a l t o n on Friends' books and j o u r n a l s . For recreation the Buck Hill residents w a n t e d to show off the b e a u t i f u l country to these visitors, so three-seater buckboards w e r e filled and driven through the woods to Canadensis, down the B r o a d h e a d Creek and back by w a y of M o u n t a i n H o m e . M e m b e r s of the summer school were asked to m a k e up their own carriage loads. J a n e R u s h m o r e chose to take some older Friends who seemed to be alone. T h e y proved to be the most interesting group of riders, f o r a m o n g them were those acquainted with trees, plants, rocks, and other nature lore. T h e excursion of p e r h a p s ten miles w a s a success. A f t e r the experiments at Buck H i l l , summer schools were continued under the l e a d e r s h i p of H e n r y W i l b u r and the Advancement Committee, a l t e r n a t i n g every two y e a r s with the biennial Conferences. Pennsylvania meeting places were s e l e c t e d : G e o r g e School, W e s t Chester, and S w a r t h m o r e . A t S w a r t h m o r e , bicycles w e r e brought by a number of young people, w h o one d a y began baiting Isaac W i l s o n , a prominent minister f r o m Bloomfield, Ontario, and J a n e R u s h m o r e to h a v e a race around the campus. W h e n each d e m u r r e d on the ground of h a v i n g no " w h e e l , " machines were g l a d l y offered, on the assumption that neither contestant knew how to ride. T o the surprise and slight anxiety of the owners two w e r e accepted; the elderly gentleman and the not y e t m i d d l e - a g e d lady mounted with assurance and dashed off in g r e a t style. W h i l e Isaac W i l s o n won the race, both w e r e received back with acclaim. T h e bicycles w e r e intact. A few summer schools w e r e held in the M i d w e s t as an extension of the series. A t one of them, in Benjaminville, 111., J a n e R u s h m o r e discussed w o r k f o r Friends in the

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country n e i g h b o r h o o d s . She h a d g o n e to Illinois Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in M c N a b b s e v e r a l d a y s p r e v i o u s l y , h o p i n g to get some points f o r her talks. She f o u n d that the material g a t h e r e d a t h o m e w a s s o i r r e l e v a n t to t h e n e e d s o f I l l i n o i s c o m m u n i t i e s t h a t she w a s o b l i g e d t o a b a n d o n h e r c a r e fully p r e p a r e d notes and begin w h e r e Illinois requirements w e r e m o s t e v i d e n t . T h e r e w e r e a n u m b e r o f fine i n t e l l i g e n t F r i e n d s in t h e I l l i n o i s M e e t i n g , o f w h o m E l i z a b e t h C o a l e o f B e n j a m i n v i l l e w a s o n e . T h e m e m b e r s a s a w h o l e did t h e i r b e s t t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r h e r i t a g e b u t m a d e little imp r e s s i o n on their n e i g h b o r h o o d s . T h e y n e e d e d help. In the s u m m e r s c h o o l t h a t J a n e a t t e n d e d in 1 9 1 3 she d i d h e r b e s t to w o r k o u t w i t h t h e m s o m e a d v a n c e s . M e a n w h i l e A r c h S t r e e t Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , a l m o s t unk n o w n t o R a c e S t r e e t , h a d since 1 9 0 0 a l s o b e e n h o l d i n g s u m m e r s c h o o l s l a r g e l y m o d e l e d on t h e s c h o o l a t W o o d brooke, E n g l a n d . A new chapter started f o r both groups w h e n in 1 9 2 3 a u n i t e d s u m m e r s c h o o l w a s h e l d a t H a v e r f o r d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f H a v e r f o r d C o l l e g e , the E x t e n s i o n C o m m i t t e e o f A r c h S t r e e t Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , the A d v a n c e m e n t C o m m i t t e e of F riends G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e , a n d W o o l m a n S c h o o l , a n o t h e r p r o j e c t initiated by H e n r y W i l b u r . Similar united s u m m e r schools w e r e held altern a t e l y a t H a v e r f o r d a n d S w a r t h m o r e until t h e y w e r e l a t e r a b s o r b e d in t h e s u m m e r t e r m o f P e n d l e H i l l . T h e early c o n c e p t i o n o f J o s e p h W a l t o n a n d J e s s e H o l m e s w a s sign i f i c a n t b e c a u s e it w a s t h e first o r g a n i z e d r e a c h i n g - o u t o f H i c k s i t e F r i e n d s f o r s y s t e m a t i c a d u l t i n s t r u c t i o n in the Bible and social concerns. A r r a n g i n g summer school p r o g r a m s led H e n r y W i l b u r ' s active m i n d to the possibility of f u r t h e r expansion. H e w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d be s o m e s o r t o f y e a r r o u n d s c h o o l f o r a d u l t F r i e n d s in a r e l i g i o u s s o c i e t y w h i c h

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had no p r o f e s s i o n a l leadership. H i s enthusiasm led his committee f o r w a r d in the steps necessary f o r the establishment of an institution f o r " s o c i a l and religious traini n g " which w o u l d attempt to p r e p a r e r a n k and file F r i e n d s f o r better service in their meetings. H i s death p r e v e n t e d him f r o m bringing the school into being, but D r . O . E d w a r d J a n n e y , an ardent believer in it, pushed on. On J a n u a r y 4, 1 9 1 5, W o o l m a n School opened at S w a r t h m o r e , using a house near the campus bought by E m m a C. B a n c r o f t and loaned rent-free to the school. W i l l i a m I . and H a n n a h C l o t h i e r H u l l w e r e the resident host and hostess. W i t h the help of f a c u l t y b o r r o w e d f r o m the college, three courses w e r e o f f e r e d f o r three months each, and could be taken separately or in sequence f o r a full academic y e a r . A r r a n g i n g the courses of study without a full-time director, as w a s first attempted, p r o v e d v e r y difficult, although B i r d T . B a l d w i n , then teaching at the college, did his best in his spare time as unpaid director. B e f o r e long a different m e t h o d w a s a c k n o w l e d g e d to be necess a r y . A f t e r considerable search E l b e r t Russell w a s in 1 9 1 7 chosen f o r the post in spite of opposition by some F r i e n d s w h o thought it entirely unsuitable to appoint a F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g member. H e w a s willing to come only on the condition that members of both P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t ings be on the b o a r d and that F r i e n d s of all branches be welcome at the school. T h i s w a s a g r e e d to and the choice of director p r o v e d a f o r t u n a t e one. E l b e r t R u s s e l l ' s understanding of H i c k s i t e views, his lovable disposition, his scholarly k n o w l e d g e of the Bible and ability to interp r e t it in t o d a y ' s terms and l a n g u a g e won f o r him the d e v o t e d friendship of the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e . In this e a r l y period J a n e R u s h m o r e s e r v e d on the b o a r d of W o o l m a n School and taught some classes during the e n f o r c e d 81

UNDER QUAKER APPOINTMENT a b s e n c e o f the d i r e c t o r . E l b e r t R u s s e l l in 1 9 2 6 w a s c a l l e d by the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s S e r v i c e C o m m i t t e e f o r w o r k in E u r o p e a n d r e s i g n e d f r o m the s c h o o l . S u b s e q u e n t l y he w e n t to D u k e U n i v e r s i t y w h e r e he w a s p r o f e s s o r a n d t h e n d e a n a t the D i v i n i t y S c h o o l . H e w a s s u c c e e d e d a t W o o l m a n S c h o o l b y C a r o l i n e G . N o r m e n t , a m e m b e r of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. A l t h o u g h m o d e l e d s o m e w h a t on w h a t F r i e n d s in E n g land w e r e successfully doing at W o o d b r o o k e , W o o l m a n S c h o o l w a s an a m b i t i o u s u n d e r t a k i n g s o n e w t o A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s t h a t it w a s h a r d to s e c u r e the a t t e n d a n c e necess a r y t o m a i n t a i n it. A f t e r s o m e v i c i s s i t u d e s , i n c l u d i n g a m o v e f r o m S w a r t h m o r e to W y n c o t e , P a . , in 1 9 2 5 , w h i c h c a m e a b o u t a f t e r M a r y L i p p i n c o t t g a v e the s c h o o l h e r h o u s e t h e r e a n d $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 , t h e p r o j e c t h a d to b e s u s p e n d e d a n d in 1 9 2 9 the p r o p e r t y w a s s o l d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , its existence h a d so o p e n e d the e y e s of F r i e n d s t o t h e p o s s i bilities o f such a s c h o o l t h a t w h e n a p l a n o f r e o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s p r o p o s e d l a t e r in 1 9 2 9 the c o n s t i t u e n c y w a s r e a d y . A n e w s c h o o l n a m e d P e n d l e H i l l w a s set up a t W a l l i n g f o r d , P a . , u s i n g the f u n d s o f W o o l m a n S c h o o l a n d h a v i n g a b o a r d with a w i d e representation of G e n e r a l C o n f e r ence, A r c h S t r e e t , a n d F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g F r i e n d s . T h i s b o a r d p e r s u a d e d D r . H e n r y T . H o d g k i n to o p e n the v e n t u r e as its first d i r e c t o r in 1 9 3 0 . A n E n g l i s h m a n b y b i r t h , a m e d i c a l m i s s i o n a r y in C h i n a f o r m a n y y e a r s , a n d a f o u n d e r o f t h e F e l l o w s h i p o f R e c o n c i l i a t i o n , he c a m e w i t h e n t h u s i a s m to this e x p e r i m e n t . W i t h e a c h y e a r the p o s i t i o n of the i n s t i t u t i o n h a s b e c o m e firmer. John H u g h e s , then R i c h a r d G r e g g , s u c c e e d e d H e n r y H o d g k i n , a n d w e r e f o l l o w e d b y the c o d i r e c t o r s H o w a r d H . a n d A n n a C o x B r i n t o n . U n d e r this s e r i e s o f a b l e l e a d e r s the s c h o o l h a s g i v e n an u n i n t e r r u p t e d s e r v i c e o f h i g h v a l u e 82

SEVEN Y E A R L Y MEETINGS A T WORK TOGETHER

f o r twenty years. Institutes f o r Meeting workers, training f o r Service Committee volunteers f o r overseas, weekend conferences, courses in religious and social studies throughout the year now make a busy campus. T h e school's recognized place among Friends is the fulfilment of H e n r y W . Wilbur's dream. T h e various religious-training enterprises of Friends General Conference, which were begun merely with the printing of lesson series under the First-day School Committee, thus spread into teachers' institutes, summer schools, and Woolman School, and were in part carried by the Advancement Committee. In the beginning the Advancement Committee did not have H e n r y Wilbur as its secretary. When it was set up in 1 9 0 0 he was chairman and Jesse H . Holmes was the recording secretary. Both of these men had a good deal of drive and both believed ardently in the new venture. On February 1, 1 9 0 5 , H e n r y Wilbur was made full-time executive with an office in the Y o u n g Friends Association Building at 1 4 0 N o r t h Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia. A t once he set to work on one of his main concerns which he developed into another major field of Conference activity, that of building up the local Meetings. T h e tearing wounds of the 1 8 2 7 Separation had resulted in a withdrawal into its own community by the Hicksite branch, and a desire to keep its own inheritance pure. So ingrown had the Society become that it was most unusual f o r any outsider to ask to join it, and the belief was widely held in the nonQuaker world that no one could be a Friend unless he had been born one or had married one. Of course a steady decline in members resulted, which f o r many years entirely f a i l e d to impress the Y e a r l y Meetings. W i t h the rise of Friends General Conference this prob-

83

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lem w a s at l a s t f a c e d . A sense of united w o r k in the v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s of p h i l a n t h r o p y , the n e w aids f o r F i r s t - d a y s c h o o l t e a c h i n g , the s t i m u l a t i n g effect o f s o c i a l acquaintance at the b i g c o n f e r e n c e s , all h a d t h e i r influence. In a d d i t i o n the A d v a n c e m e n t C o m m i t t e e m a d e a f r o n t a l attack on the s i t u a t i o n . H e n r y W i l b u r w a s a b o r n o r a t o r . H e b e g a n at once to t r a v e l t h r o u g h o u t all t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s , r o u s i n g them to s o m e sense of v i t a l i t y a n d unity. It w a s uphill w o r k to r e v e r s e a t r e n d of s e v e n t y five y e a r s ' g r o w t h , but his i n f e c t i o u s spirit g a v e the M e e t ings c o u r a g e . H e t a l k e d c o m m o n sense a n d he s t i r r e d y o u n g p e o p l e to action. A l s o he d i s c o v e r e d w h e r e scatt e r e d F r i e n d s w e r e l i v i n g , put them in touch w i t h each o t h e r , a n d s u g g e s t e d t h a t they try to m e e t t o g e t h e r . S l o w l y t w o o r t h r e e new M e e t i n g s a r o s e , n e w i n t e r e s t s p r a n g up w h o s e f r u i t a g e H e n r y W i l b u r d i d n o t live to see. A f t e r an i n t e r v a l of s e v e r a l m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g his d e a t h in 1 9 1 4 , J . B a r n a r d W a l t o n w a s a p p o i n t e d secret a r y of the A d v a n c e m e n t C o m m i t t e e a n d l a t e r s e c r e t a r y of Friends G e n e r a l Conference. H e has continued H e n r y W i l b u r ' s p l a n of v i s i t i n g w i d e l y a m o n g all the M e e t i n g s , h a s a r r a n g e d f o r visits by o t h e r F r i e n d s , k e p t a file of n o n r e s i d e n t m e m b e r s of v a r i o u s M e e t i n g s , c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h m a n y s e e k e r s a b o u t the Q u a k e r w a y of l i f e , a n d conducted the e x e c u t i v e w o r k of the office. E f f o r t s w e r e m a d e e a r l y by the C o n f e r e n c e to k e e p a l i v e the M e e t i n g s in I o w a a n d e a s t e r n O h i o , but f o r t h e m help c a m e too l a t e . I o w a M e e t i n g s s l o w l y v a n i s h e d . T h e y w e r e not a s e p a r a t e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , but a p a r t o f I l l i n o i s , w h i c h w a s not s t r o n g e n o u g h to g i v e s u p p o r t to these widely scattered small groups. Ohio w a s counted a m o n g the constituent Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s w h e n the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e w a s first e s t a b l i s h e d in 1 9 0 0 . A f t e r 1 9 1 8 its 84

SEVEN Y E A R L Y MEETINGS A T W O R K TOGETHER

Y e a r l y M e e t i n g sessions were not held, but a Representative Committee still counted as part of the Conference. T h r e e dwindling M e e t i n g s continued for a time and then ceased to function. T h e r e a f t e r , the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g participants in the General Conference were six: Illinois, Indiana, Genesee, New Y o r k , Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Philadelphia was able to extend its influence to the f a r W e s t through the establishment of O r a n g e Grove M o n t h l y M e e t i n g in Pasadena, Cal. Its first members had m i g r a t e d from Philadelphia and wished to belong to Race Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . It t h e r e f o r e is an integral unit in the Conference. Recently C a m b r i d g e M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , a member of New E n g l a n d Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , became a p a r t of the Conference as a U n i t e d M e e t i n g . Other new M e e t i n g s have been invited to join with the Conference and to participate in its activities. Of the three Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s that lie back of the eastern seaboard, Genesee w a s at the beginning small and w e a k . Nevertheless, it furnished at the turn of the century three outstanding Hicksite p r e a c h e r s : Sunderland P . Gardiner, who often visited N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ; J o h n J . Cornell, who l a t e r moved to Baltimore becoming quite a power t h e r e ; and Isaac W i l s o n . A l t h o u g h he had very little education, Isaac W i l s o n became the fluent and vigorous preacher of a simple faith based on the life of J e s u s . H e sometimes a p p e a r e d in the pulpit of the Bloomfield M e t h o d i s t Church, but his service w a s most notable in the long distances he t r a v e l e d under religious concern, visiting Friends' M e e t i n g s widely. H i s love of children, his interest in people and tolerance of their w a y s and opinions m a d e him as welcome as he w a s constant in his attendance at the biennial General Conferences. H e w a s

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a c t i v e until a b o u t t w o y e a r s b e f o r e he d i e d in 1 9 3 2 at the age of ninety-three. T h e Z a v i t z f a m i l y of C o l d s t r e a m , l o n g a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f G e n e s e e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d much t o w a r d its g r o w t h . T h e y h a d m a n y m e m b e r s w h o b e c a m e prominent p r o f e s s i o n a l l y and w e r e influential among F r i e n d s . C h a r l e s Z a v i t z w a s o n e o f the f o u n d e r s of the C a n a d i a n F r i e n d s ' S e r v i c e C o m m i t t e e , w h o s e activities a r e s i m i l a r to t h o s e o f the B r i t i s h a n d A m e r i c a n counterparts. I n a l m o s t as p r e c a r i o u s a s i t u a t i o n as G e n e s e e in the early y e a r s of the C o n f e r e n c e w e r e I n d i a n a a n d Illinois, f o r the g r o u p s w e r e s m a l l a n d d i s t a n c e s b e t w e e n them g r e a t . I n d i a n a w a s p e r h a p s a little l a r g e r a t t h e s t a r t . C e n t e r i n g in R i c h m o n d it w a s g r e a t l y o u t n u m b e r e d by the p a s t o r a l , e v a n g e l i c a l F r i e n d s , b u t it d e v e l o p e d s o m e s t r o n g leaders. A m o n g them w a s Frances M . Robinson. A n o t h e r w a s E d i t h W i n d e r , w h o s t u d i e d a t W o o d b r o o k e a n d ret u r n e d to a g o o d m a n y y e a r s o f a c t i v e w o r k in I n d i a n a w h e r e , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , she m a d e a c l e a r a n d d i s c r i m i nating survey of Indiana and Illinois Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . L a t e r this fine a n d u n a s s u m i n g w o m a n c a m e t o W o o l m a n H o u s e to act as h o s t e s s . I n t h a t c a p a c i t y she w a s a b l e to d o c o n s i d e r a b l e v i s i t i n g a m o n g e a s t e r n F r i e n d s until h e r m a r r i a g e to W i l l i a m L i t t l e b o y a n d h e r d e p a r t u r e f o r England. I l l i n o i s , c o v e r i n g a w i d e t e r r i t o r y , w a s d e f i n i t e l y a t first a r u r a l Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , h o l d i n g its a n n u a l s e s s i o n s a t C l e a r C r e e k M e e t i n g , n e a r M c N a b b . T h e r e w a s little b u s i n e s s to t r a n s a c t a n d the s e s s i o n s w e r e i n f o r m a l . Clarence and A l b e r t M i l l s , C h a r l e s W h i t n e y and others were leading Friends downstate. A f t e r w a r d a group f o r m e d in C h i c a g o a r o u n d J o n a t h a n P l u m m e r , T h o m a s

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A. Jenkins, and, among others, the family of Clement and Louella Flitcraft. They received inspiration from Jane Addams and her co-workers at Hull House, although Jane Addams did not become a member, nor did most of her staff. T h e interest of this Monthly Meeting in philanthropic concerns and its close connection with the General Conference brought new life into the whole area. The Conference set up summer schools in both Indiana and Illinois with good lectures, discussions, and social features. The fine start made by Thomas Jenkins's daughter Beatrice in work among young people was unfortunately cut off by her early death. Slowly the tide has turned. A renewed interest in Friends has been manifested by the public, stimulated not only by the Conference but by simultaneous encouragement from the American Friends Service Committee and the Friends Fellowship Council. As a result Yellow Springs Meeting in Ohio, attached to Indiana Yearly Meeting, and five new Meetings under Illinois have been established with a breath of new life in them all. Camp Ill-Ind-O, at Quaker Haven, Ind., has been a focus for young

Friends, and a newssheet, Friends Here and There, fur-

nished for some years a continuing thread of communication between the Meetings. Both New York and Baltimore, of the eastern Yearly Meetings, were at first more interested in the Conference than was Philadelphia, which because of its greater size felt less need of it. New York has always been a strong Meeting with a number of fine leaders. Samuel Willets, the first president of the Swarthmore College Board of M a n a g e r s , was an able member though never active in the Conference. Ellwood Burdsall, manufacturer, and E d w a r d Cornell, an attorney, each served as clerk of the

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Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . M a n y of these N e w Y o r k F r i e n d s , some o f t h e m in an e x c e l l e n t w o r l d l y p o s i t i o n a n d a c t i v e in the M e e t i n g , d i d n o t w a n t to be f o l l o w e r s o f P h i l a d e l p h i a j u s t b e c a u s e it w a s so l a r g e . P a r t l y f o r t h i s r e a s o n , p e r h a p s , their v i g o r o u s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g has been an energetic p r o m o t e r of C o n f e r e n c e w o r k . B a l t i m o r e , another large Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , has furnished valued

guidance

in

the

Conference.

Dr.

O.

Edward

J a n n e y , a l r e a d y in 1 9 0 0 p r e s i d e n t o f the A m e r i c a n P u r i t y A l l i a n c e a n d in 1 9 0 6 one o f the o r g a n i z e r s o f the N a t i o n a l V i g i l a n c e C o m m i t t e e , w a s its first c h a i r m a n , r e m a i n i n g a t the p o s t f o r twenty y e a r s .

E l i M . L a m b , as w e h a v e seen,

t o o k an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in the F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l ence.

Confer-

T h r o u g h o u t Baltimore Y e a r l y M e e t i n g there

was

a n a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in p h i l a n t h r o p i c c a u s e s o f a l l k i n d s a s w e l l as w h o l e h e a r t e d s u p p o r t o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e .

In

r e c e n t y e a r s the M e e t i n g h a s b e e n f o r t u n a t e in the dev o t e d service

g i v e n it b y

Bliss

and L a V e r n e

Forbush.

B l i s s F o r b u s h w e n t t o B a l t i m o r e to act as s e c r e t a r y to the city M o n t h l y M e e t i n g a n d w a s subsequently m a d e secret a r y o f the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g .

W i t h little h e l p e x c e p t t h e

g r e a t c o n t r i b u t i o n m a d e b y his w i f e , he p u m p e d n e w vitality into e v e r y t h i n g .

Bliss F o r b u s h w a s appointed chair-

m a n o f F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e in 1 9 4 1 , s e r v i n g e i g h t y e a r s f o l l o w i n g the t w e n t y - o n e - y e a r t e r m of fine l e a d e r s h i p p r o v i d e d by A r t h u r C . J a c k s o n of P h i l a d e l p h i a .

Ability

as a s p e a k e r , a f r i e n d l y spirit, and k n o w l e d g e of the Bible g a i n e d in c o u r s e s a t the U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o

Divinity

School have m a d e Bliss Forbush a leading Hicksite F r i e n d t h r o u g h o u t the C o n f e r e n c e . O n e o f the i m p o r t a n t s e c t o r s o f B a l t i m o r e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g is the g r o u p o f F r i e n d s in W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . 88

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S E V E N Y E A R L Y M E E T I N G S A T WORK T O G E T H E R

Orthodox meeting on I r v i n g Street was a pastoral meeting, the Hicksite meeting on I Street was u n p r o g r a m m e d . Both came into national prominence during the term of public office of H e r b e r t H o o v e r , who was born an I o w a F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g Friend. W h i l e he was in President Coolidge's Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce, he attended the I Street M e e t i n g . A s President, however, it was evident to him and all the F r i e n d s that his presence at an u n p r o g r a m m e d meeting f o r worship based on silence would create problems. T h e r e would be too large a proportion of curiosity-seekers with no understanding of silent worship, the necessary retinue of officials would be a detriment to the spirit of the simple meeting, and it would be difficult to restrain non-Friends f r o m speaking, especially when they saw a g o o d chance to get the ear of the President. H o o v e r s h i f t e d to I r v i n g Street. T h e Friends there, without a pastor at the time, asked him if he had a p r e f erence as to w h o should be chosen. H e proposed his old friend, Augustus T . M u r r a y , E m e r i t u s P r o f e s s o r of G r e e k at S t a n f o r d U n i v e r s i t y , who agreed to come as a minister, but not the minister. L a t e r the President suggested that in the national capital F r i e n d s should present an undivided f r o n t . A number of F r i e n d s were ready to act on the recommendation. Within a y e a r the new F l o r i d a A v e n u e M e e t i n g H o u s e w a s built f o r the use of F r i e n d s of all branches. F o r a while all three houses were operated, but later both of the older ones were sold. F l o r i d a A v e n u e has become a p a r t of the new united P o t o m a c Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g which in 1 9 5 1 succeeded the f o r m e r F a i r f a x ( H i c k s i t e ) and the P o t o m a c parts of B a l t i m o r e ( O r t h o d o x ) Q u a r t e r s . P o t o m a c reports to both B a l t i m o r e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s , not yet united, but one more step has been taken on the r o a d t o w a r d union. 89

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T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f all the H i c k s i t e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s w a s in one o r a n o t h e r w a y c o n n e c t e d with t h e F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e . T h e l a r g e r ones put t h e i r s t r e n g t h i n t o the c o m b i n e d effort, the s m a l l e r ones w e r e helped i n t o new g r o w t h . T h e e a r l y s e a r c h f o r p o o l e d e x p e r i e n c e in t h e fields o f r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n and p h i l a n t h r o p i c end e a v o r e x p a n d e d i n t o a full c u r r e n t o f lesson m a t e r i a l , s h o r t e r o r l o n g e r p e r i o d s o f adult study, and p l a n n e d ext e n s i o n w o r k t o s t i m u l a t e the f o r m a t i o n o f new F r i e n d s ' Meetings. T h e activities brought wider acquaintance a m o n g the v a r i o u s b o d i e s and r e s u l t e d in i n t e r a c t i o n with the larger Q u a k e r world.

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CHAPTER VI

Biennial Pilgrimage None of the special programs of Friends General Conference, neither the work in the Y e a r l y Meetings nor the religious education and philanthropic efforts, would have progressed as they did had it not been f o r the recurring stimulation of the large biennial conferences. T h e sessions that had started in 1 8 9 4 and had developed into the united body at Chautauqua have continued to be landmarks of Conference history. Since 1900, through fifty-two years and two world wars the biennial sequence has been almost uninterrupted. In the first two and a half decades the conferences moved f r o m one locality to another to energize the resident Friends and to promote as much personal acquaintance as possible with each other's meetings. A f t e r the important Chautauqua assembly in 1 9 0 0 the places selected were, in order, Asbury P a r k , N . J . , T o r o n t o , Canada, Mountain L a k e P a r k , M d . , Winona L a k e , Ind., Ocean G r o v e , N . J . , Chautauqua again in 1 9 1 2 , Saratoga Springs, Ν . Y . , Cape M a y , N . J . , in 1 9 1 6 and 1 9 2 0 , Richmond, Ind., and Ocean City, N . J . , in 1 9 2 4 and 1 9 2 6 , and then, beginning with 1 9 2 8 , continuously at Cape M a y . Only one break occurred. In 1 9 1 8 the United States was deeply involved in W o r l d W a r I , transportation f o r civilians was restricted, and many Friends felt that the money which the Conference would cost should be contributed to the relief work being undertaken by the American Friends Service Committee, organized the previous year. Accordingly, an enlarged session of the Central Committee, held at G e o r g e School, was substituted. Friends thoroughly enjoyed themselves at these Confer-

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enees. J a n e R u s h m o r e attended most of them and recalls them in considerable detail. G e n e r a l l y speaking, lectures w e r e of a high o r d e r , discussions lively, and there usually w a s a quota of amusing incidents that g a v e flavor. D r . J a n n e y g a v e himself a g o o d deal of pleasure one y e a r by m a r c h i n g through the special train shouting " S m o k e r a h e a d ! " thus h o r r i f y i n g the delegates w h o in l a r g e measure still r e g a r d e d smoking by men (of course f o r women it w a s at that time almost unheard o f ) as a reprehensible if not actually i m m o r a l practice. T h e n D r . J a n n e y gleef u l l y explained that he r e f e r r e d to the train's soft-coal burning engine which w a s liberally besmirching everyone. H e produced one surprise even to himself. A s the train pulled out f r o m P h i l a d e l p h i a he h a d sent to R i c h m o n d a t e l e g r a m g i v i n g the final check-up of attendance. " O n b o a r d one thousand. E i g h t without h o m e s . " On a r r i v a l he f o u n d their R i c h m o n d hosts in a f r e n z y , ransacking the city f o r beds and f o o d . T h e t e l e g r a m they received had r e a d : " O n b o a r d one thousand eight without h o m e s . " T h e R i c h m o n d F r i e n d s had gone to a g r e a t deal of trouble to supply enough seats f o r the big c r o w d . M a n y new f o l d i n g chairs had been procured and neatly v a r nished. T h e F i r s t - d a y meeting f o r w o r s h i p w a s long, the day was hot. W h e n meeting w a s broken and the F r i e n d s rose, the chairs rose with them. N e x t day e v e r y d r u g s t o r e in R i c h m o n d w a s out of benzine. T h e C o n f e r e n c e went to Ocean G r o v e with the understanding that the city m a d e no charge f o r the use of the big auditorium. W h e n they a r r i v e d they w e r e told that while there was no r e g u l a r f e e , those using the hall usually g a v e the Ocean G r o v e A s s e m b l y their Sunday collection. T h e F r i e n d s ' committee, a little nonplussed, asked w h a t this amounted to and w e r e told " a b o u t $ 5 0 0 . " Since 92

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Friends never take collections and would find it particularly objectionable to do so at First-day meeting, the $ 5 0 0 was paid from the treasury, supplemented by some private contributions, and the Conference returned there no more. One day at Ocean City, J a n e found Charles F . Underhill, an active member of N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y Meeting, clerk of its Representative Committee, and a public reader by profession, in a depressed state. T h i s was surprising as he had just read a very good paper to the Conference. H e remarked in his most tragic manner that this was the saddest day of his life. " W h y ? " asked J a n e incredulously. " I toiled and sweated over my address, and then a f t e r w a r d s someone said to me, ' T h a t was an excellent paper, Charles. D i d thy w i f e write it?' " J a n e Rushmore began attending conferences in 1 8 9 4 when she was a delegate f r o m N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y Meeting, as she continued to be at least four times more. A f t e r that she was f o r many years a representative f r o m Philadelphia. In the printed record there are some characteristic remarks that she offered at Swarthmore during her second Conference which show how she could point up a too common weakness of any society. " W e don't believe in indifference, any of us. W e believe in zeal. W e believe in it mightily, but we practice indifference just about as much as we believe in zeal. T h a t is, we believe that a great many people ought to be zealous, and most of us believe that other people are a great deal better able to do the work and show the zeal than we a r e . " Indifference, with its resultant inactivity, J a n e challenged throughout the span of her work with Friends. She wanted to see people do something about their convictions, move f o r w a r d , make better opportunities and use them. Indirectly she had stated at the 1 8 9 6 Conference one of the great objectives of her

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later w o r k with F r i e n d s : to stimulate and to guide the indifferent and the timid into f r u i t f u l action. A t the first setting up of the Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r ence in 1 9 0 0 , a step was taken full of portent f o r the f u t u r e . A n invitation was sent to J o h n W i l h e l m R o w n t r e e of E n g l a n d to attend and deliver one of the m a j o r addresses. J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m had come entirely on his own personal concern f o u r y e a r s b e f o r e , as we have said, adventurously charging the Hicksite lair. A l t h o u g h by 1 9 0 0 there were a number of Hicksites w h o had cordial personal acquaintances among the O r t h o d o x and with a f e w E n g l i s h Friends, officially the isolation of almost seventy-five y e a r s was in effect unbroken. T h e Hicksite Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s were not recognized by L o n d o n , A r c h Street, or the F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g . N e v e r t h e l e s s they decided to experiment with this request. J o h n W i l h e l m R o w n t r e e did not come, but he sent a paper on " T h e P e r sonal E l e m e n t in R e l i g i o n " with a message quoted by the chairman that " h e would have been very glad to have been here himself, but f e a r e d our climate at this time," undoubtedly an honest reason, as A m e r i c a n summers are a t e r r i f y i n g prospect to the British. G e o r g e A . B a r t o n , prof e s s o r of Biblical and church history at B r y n M a w r College, did a p p e a r with a lecture on " T h e Religious U s e of the B i b l e , " but he came not as an emissary f r o m A r c h Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of which he was then a member, but as a scholar who was also a F r i e n d . A l t h o u g h J o h n W i l h e l m R o w n t r e e did not respond by journeying to Chautauqua, E n g l i s h Friends had been made a w a r e of the existence of the new Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r ence. M o r e o v e r , the A m e r i c a n Friends were not discoura g e d by the only partial success of their initial effort. F o r the A s b u r y P a r k Conference they invited J o h n W i l l i a m 94

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G r a h a m , who responded with three addresses, making himself so popular with the attenders that he was asked to return f o r the 1 9 0 4 Conference in T o r o n t o . T h i s time he brought with him a minute f r o m his M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , endorsed by the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g , a real step f o r w a r d and a gratification to both him and the Conference. But, as he explained f r a n k l y , no minute f r o m the M e e t i n g f o r Sufferings. W h i l e his concern had the support of perhaps two-thirds of that M e e t i n g , the minority prevented the unanimity which was necessary. T h e objectors were some evangelical Friends " w h o , " in J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m ' s words, " d i d not very much approve of me, and did not very much approve of you, and did not think the conjunction of the two dangerous elements would be altogether s a t i s f a c t o r y . . . . It was rather too much to take upon . . . the cautious shoulders of persons w h o h a v e sat over 2 5 0 y e a r s doing verv wise and c a r e f u l things at D e v o n s h i r e House." A t T o r o n t o also appeared f o r the first time on a Conference p r o g r a m that g r e a t liberal spirit, R u f u s M . J o n e s , a l r e a d y living within the area of A r c h Street Y e a r l y M e e t ing, but a member of N e w E n g l a n d Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ( F i v e Years). C r a c k s were a p p e a r i n g in the h a r d walls of cherished misunderstanding. M e m b e r s of L o n d o n Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w h o ventured to A m e r i c a enjoyed coming to the conferences and summer schools; Hicksite Friends f o u n d themselves liking E n g l i s h Friends. H e r b e r t G . W o o d and D o u g l a s P e p l e r with their wives w e r e an inspiring and also a fun-loving p a r t of the summer-school week in 1 9 0 7 at G e o r g e School. In 1 9 0 6 J o h n A s h w o r t h of M a n c h e s t e r attended the M o u n t a i n L a k e P a r k Conference without a minute, but when he m a d e his second visit in 1 9 0 8 he w a s 95

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a b l e t o p r e s e n t at W i n o n a L a k e a m i n u t e f r o m his M o n t h l y M e e t i n g e n d o r s e d b y b o t h the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g a n d the M e e t i n g f o r S u f f e r i n g s , t h e first w o r d f r o m t h a t b o d y to Hicksite Friends. A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t v i s i t o r at W i n o n a L a k e w a s C y r u s W . H a r v e y o f W i c h i t a , K a n s a s , b r i n g i n g w i t h h i m a minute f r o m K a n s a s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ( F i v e Y e a r s ) . T h e story o f his g r o w i n g i n t e r e s t in F r i e n d s o f the o t h e r b r a n c h w e n t b a c k s o m e ten y e a r s o r m o r e . A t t h a t t i m e , h e t o l d the C o n f e r e n c e , he h a d b e e n a s k e d to w r i t e a p a p e r o n " T h e R e l a t i o n of Q u a k e r i s m to M o d e r n T h o u g h t . " In p r e p a r i n g it I became

intensely

i n t e r e s t e d in w h a t w e h a v e b e e n

t o c a l l t h e d o c t r i n e of t h e I n w a r d

Light,

b e c a u s e of

its

accustomed wonderful

r a m i f i c a t i o n s in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of m o d e r n p h i l o s o p h y a n d t h e newthought

in

modern

theology.

became

aware

of

lecture, that

that

through

the

body

and has held for generations the Inward Light. its m e a n i n g , what

of

was came

studying

this

t o m e in t h e

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that

you

question

I

preparation

represent

held

strongly, definitely, to the doctrine

t h e d e s i r e a r o s e in m y

managed

I

W h e n I b e c a m e a w a r e of t h i s a n d

s o r t of p e o p l e y o u

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Monthly

M e e t i n g a l l o w i n g h i m to m a k e a g e n e r a l visit t o a n y w h o b e a r t h e n a m e o f F r i e n d s . H e w a s a p i o n e e r in p e n e t r a t i n g the b a r r i e r a f t e r seventy-two y e a r s of separation. In the c o m p a n y o f E d w i n P i e r c e o f M o o r e s t o w n , N . J . , he hesit a n t l y v e n t u r e d into the M e e t i n g o f H i c k s i t e F r i e n d s o f P h i l a d e l p h i a ( p r e s u m a b l y Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ) f o r a l m o s t all t h e sessions, then N e w Y o r k f o r all sessions, a n d t h e s a m e at Illinois.

N o w , in 1 9 0 8 , at W i n o n a L a k e he r e j o i c e d in

the increasing f e l l o w s h i p across the stern b o r d e r s .

The

p a t h w a s still r o u g h a n d n a r r o w ; it w a s n o w i d e b o u l e v a r d . 96

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But the way was open at last. Cyrus H a r v e y gave the closing address of the Conference on " A Spiritual Atonement." J a n e Rushmore took part in many of these Conferences. She gave a paper at Winona L a k e on "Training Teachers f o r First-day Schools," and in 1 9 1 0 at Ocean Grove one on " T h e Religious School." She was offering modern ideas of Bible interpretation. Y o u ought not to study the Bible in small fragments, but take the long outlook of history. Especially is this true of the Old T e s t a ment. . . . Unless we are able to take it up with a fair degree of consecutiveness and cover the field pretty thoroughly, so that we get the long outlook of the development of the Hebrew life and religious feeling, we are going to come out with v e r y untrue and one-sided conceptions.

She was also a member of the Central Committee. T h e r e she advocated discontinuing the expensive printing of verbatim reports of the Conferences in f a v o r of subsidizing the Friends Intelligencer to print a supplement with full but not such overextended accounts; she urged using the money thus saved f o r better programs at the Conferences; she was pushing f o r the extension of the series of graded lesson leaves. B y 1 9 1 2 the whole organization was on much firmer footing. T h e Advancement Committee had sent requests to the several Y e a r l y Meetings to make up $ 3 , 0 0 0 a year f o r its use. T h e First-day School and Philanthropic Committee asked f o r regular appropriations also. T h e Y e a r l y Meetings responded, even Philadelphia, which theretofore had supported the Conference only by voluntary contributions f r o m interested members. Curiously, Race Street Y e a r l y Meeting, upon whose property or that of immediately related bodies the Conference office has always had its various abodes, and from whose Central Bureau its 97

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publications h a v e been issued, was the last of the six Hicksite g r o u p s to become officially a p a r t of the C o n f e r e n c e . I t s relative size and s t r e n g t h (it was the l a r g e s t of the six) k e p t it f r o m feeling the same need as the o t h e r s did. A t last in 1912, when the request f o r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g money was g r a n t e d , R a c e S t r e e t became a r e g u l a r m e m b e r of the C o n f e r e n c e . T h e clerk of its Y e a r l y M e e t i n g and of its R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e h a v e f o r m a n y y e a r s been exofficio m e m b e r s of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e . W h e n the big g a t h e r i n g assembled at C h a u t a u q u a in 1912, t h e r e was J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m f o r the f o u r t h time, b r i n g i n g with him a copy of the L o n d o n l e t t e r " T o All W h o B e a r the N a m e of F r i e n d s in A m e r i c a . " W h e t h e r J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m or the C o n f e r e n c e w a s the h a p p i e r at this m a r k e d l y new g e s t u r e f r o m L o n d o n cannot be m e a s u r e d now. H e also b r o u g h t i m p o r t a n t news, confirmed by cable a f t e r he l e f t E n g l a n d : the p u r c h a s e of S w a r t h m o o r H a l l by E m m a A b r a h a m ( a d e s c e n d a n t of J u d g e and M a r g a r e t F e l l ) with the help of a g r o u p of sixteen F r i e n d s led by D r . T h o m a s H o d g k i n . P r o v i s i o n was m a d e f o r the Society of F r i e n d s to h a v e the r i g h t to purchase in the f u t u r e ; m e a n w h i l e the p r o p e r t y would be p r e s e r v e d as a Q u a k e r shrine.* T h e C o n f e r e n c e sent a l e t t e r of a p p r e c i a t i o n to E n g l i s h F r i e n d s . N o r was J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m the only E n g l i s h visitor to C h a u t a u q u a . A much y o u n g e r m a n , H a r r y T . Silcock, h a d also t r a v e l e d to A m e r i c a , c a r r y i n g a m i n u t e which b o r e to the y o u n g F r i e n d s of this c o u n t r y the cordial greetings of the Y o u n g F r i e n d s C o m m i t t e e of L o n d o n Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , signed by seventeen of t h e m . A c q u a i n t a n c e was indeed ripening. * In 1951 the Society of Friends in E n g l a n d o b t a i n e d a lease of S w a r t h m o o r Hall and expects t o keep it open to visitors, according to the practice since E m m a A b r a h a m b o u g h t it.

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T w o years later at Saratoga Springs another English Friend, Robert L . Simkin, gave an address on " T h e W o r k of Friends in W e s t China." T h e long covert opposition of Hicksite Friends to the evangelistic work of missionaries in the foreign field broke down to the extent of having on the Conference program a representative of London Y e a r l y Meeting's missionary group in China. H e r e a Hicksite prejudice was yielding, a f t e r slow acceptance of the idea that "advancement w o r k " did not have all the connotations of "proselyting" in its bad sense. But the overshadowing event of this Conference was the sudden death there of H e n r y W . Wilbur. Shocked by the loss of the man who had actively furthered the Conference and had inaugurated the Advancement Committee, the Friends felt deeply the obligation to carry f o r w a r d his purposes. J u s t two years b e f o r e he had been given the title of general secretary of the Conference. A feeling had been growing that a permanent location f o r the biennial conferences was very desirable. T h e 1 9 1 6 session at Cape M a y was so satisfactory that in 1 9 2 0 a second experiment there convinced a number of the Central Committee that the answer had been found. Friends f r o m the M i d d l e W e s t , however, wanted the stimulating presence of a wide assembly of their fellows, so Richmond, Ind., was again chosen f o r 1 9 2 2 . T h e local membership outdid itself in hospitality and was especially lavish with treats of watermelons, which made a splendid impression on the guests. On the special train going back east a f t e r the close of the meetings the passengers grew hot and thirsty. Suddenly a rumor of " W a t e r m e l o n I " spread. It was discovered that R o b e r t Seaman of N e w Y o r k and William C. Biddle had brought several of the Indiana treasures aboard and were cutting them in the smoking room, having first covered the floor with paper. " W e had

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no o t h e r use f o r the s m o k i n g r o o m , so w e t h o u g h t w e ' d e a t w a t e r m e l o n in i t , " s a i d R o b e r t S e a m a n . T h e h e a t of I n d i a n a p e r s u a d e d the C o m m i t t e e to r e t u r n to the s e a c o a s t , a n d O c e a n C i t y , N . J . , w a s the scene of b o t h the 1 9 2 4 a n d the 1 9 2 6 c o n f e r e n c e s . T h i s m o v e w a s so p o p u l a r t h a t in 1 9 2 6 the a t t e n d a n c e r e a c h e d t w e l v e h u n d r e d , a m o n g w h o m w e r e ninety children. T h e N e w J e r s e y s h o r e h a d w o n out o v e r all c o m p e t i t o r s . C a p e M a y o f f e r e d such a t t r a c t i v e conditions a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s f o r 1 9 2 8 t h a t the C o n f e r e n c e r e t u r n e d t h e r e , with the r e s u l t t h a t this t o w n h a s been the h o m e of the g a t h e r i n g s f o r e v e r y session since. W i t h a s t a b i l i z e d place of m e e t i n g , the p r o g r a m s a l s o t o o k on an o r d e r l y , p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t . A t t e n d a n c e increased. F r i e n d s f r o m other branches or other countries w e r e less the e x c e p t i o n , m o r e the r e g u l a r l y e x p e c t e d f e l low attenders. Y o u n g p e o p l e h a d a m o r e i m p o r t a n t place. W h e n J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s c h a i r m a n of the p r o g r a m c o m m i t t e e f o r 1 9 2 0 , a plan w h i c h b e g a n at S a r a t o g a m e r e l y in p r o v i d i n g c a r e f o r children w a s e x t e n d e d to a r e g u l a r l y o r g a n i z e d p e r i o d f o r the y o u n g e s t m e m b e r s . E m m a W a l l a c e and E l s i e O a k f o r d , a s s i s t e d by f o u r o t h e r t e a c h e r s , all f r o m F r i e n d s ' schools, set up m o r n i n g classes on the b e a c h . F o r m a n y recent y e a r s u n d e r the a b l e direction of V e s t a H a i n e s , this p r o g r a m , c a l l e d the J u n i o r C o n f e r e n c e , has b e c o m e an i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e of e v e r y g a t h e r i n g . L a t e r a high-school section w i t h special activities f o r t e e n - a g e r s w a s a d d e d , a n d n o w the Y o u n g F r i e n d s ' h e a d q u a r t e r s h a s m o r e and m o r e not only a r r a n g e d special m e e t i n g s a n d activities of its o w n , but h a s seen its m e m b e r s t a k e m o r e p a r t in the l a r g e r p r o g r a m , e s p e c i a l l y at the r o u n d t a b l e discussions. T h e topics f o r these, closely a l l i e d to

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the subjects of the main addresses, include Bible study, principles of Friends, religious and secular education, peace, and various forms of social service. F o r all age groups the instituting of round tables has proved a valuable technique as the size of the Conferences has increased. Problems always exist f o r Friends gathered in very large numbers. George Fox, to be sure, preached to thousands, but in latter days the desire to have many take part in discussion, feel responsibility f o r expression in the meeting f o r worship, and experience the close fellowship of the spirit that can best exist in small groups requires the frequent breaking up of a great congregation into lesser units. Therefore, in addition to the round tables, there are of recent years a number of small daily meetings f o r worship which often provide a greater intensity of silence and communion. With attendance now running at about two thousand, approximately 1 0 per cent of the total membership, and programs well arranged f o r all ages, the biennial Conferences have an established and valuable place in welding together Friends from distant Meetings and of diverse views. Closely connected in interest to the whole General Conference, though not under its direct control, is the Friends Intelligencer. This weekly publication has appeared uninterruptedly f o r more than one hundred years and is the unofficial organ of the Hicksite Y e a r l y Meetings. It is reported that in 1844 a young Philadelphia Friend named Chapman, by profession a printer, enlisted the cooperation of E d w a r d Parrish (later the first president of Swarthmore College) and shortly they announced an association of Friends who would act as editors of the new periodical. A l l were members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: Dr. John Griscom, Dillwyn and Isaac Parrish, William M .

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D o r s e y , W i l l i a m P . Sharpless, and M o r r i s L . H a l l o w e l l . S o m e years later, in 1 8 5 3 , this group was replaced by five women Friends: Harriet J . Moore, Jane Johnson, Anna A . T o w n s e n d , D e b o r a h Fisher W h a r t o n , and Susanna M . P a r r i s h . Of these women, J a n e J o h n s o n had had useful experience.* She had started the first First-day school in Philadelphia, had published in 1 8 4 4 a little book, Early Impressions, or Evidences of the Secret Operations of the Divine Witness in the Minds of Children, which contained, in old-fashioned language, simple accounts of incidents in the childhood of a number of early Friends. She later w r o t e other small books, some of the earliest material f o r F i r s t - d a y schools, and sent contributions to Scattered Seeds, a magazine f o r children. She, D e b o r a h W h a r t o n , Susanna P a r r i s h , and A n n a T o w n s e n d had all been members, along with others, of a committee to establish M e e t ing libraries and loan books to them, so they w e r e well accustomed to working together when they became editors of the Intelligencer. T h e women's board existed f o r many years. A s the older members resigned or died, they w e r e succeeded by H e l e n G . L o n g s t r e t h , Susan R o b e r t s , L o u i s a J . R o b e r t s , L y d i a H . H a l l , R a c h e l W . H i l l b o r n . T h e board devoted a f u l l day each week to the paper, reading aloud all the original contributions. T h e material presented was largely essays, poetry, and religious articles. Advertisements of F r i e n d s ' schools were carried. F r o m them we learn that in the 1 8 6 0 ' s the tuition was $ 6 0 per twenty-week term at a b o a r d i n g school, with painting or f o r e i g n languages five d o l l a r s extra. A boys' school announced that " n o game of chance, like Dice, D o m i n o or C a r d s will be t o l e r a t e d , " and * See a c c o u n t by M a r g u e r i t e Hallowell, " J a n e J o h n s o n , " in Quaker bearers ( P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1943), p p . 154 ff.

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a girls' school assured patrons that "no accomplishment inconsistent with Friends' principles" would be taught. Because of the restricted contents of the Intelligencer, another publication was started during the period of Jane Rushmore's childhood called the Journal, which carried news of First-day school unions, accounts of Friends' meetings, comments on public affairs. Beginning in 1885 under the editorship of Howard M . Jenkins the two papers were merged, the group of women becoming associate editors. Howard Jenkins at once enlarged the scope of the Friends Intelligencer and Journal with material on Friends' testimonies, especially peace. He tried to draw all the Hicksite Meetings closer together and to cultivate some acquaintance with the other branch by a column called "News of Arch Street Friends." His death left Lydia Hall and Rachel Hillborn to continue by themselves, though they soon were fortunate in procuring the help of Charles F . Jenkins as business manager. Regular editors began with R. Barclay Spicer, who served as editor for seven years, and Henry Ferris, who served for five. Then Sue C. Yerkes became head for twenty-one years, followed immediately in 1943 by William Hubben.* According to its new articles of incorporation, adopted in 1 9 5 3 , a certain number of the governing body of the Friends Intelligencer will be appointed by the General Conference, others by the supporting group of Friends Intelligencer Associates. The paper's constant growth in circulation is evidence of general satisfaction with it, as is the financial aid given it by Friends throughout the Conference area. During World W a r I a group who did not like the * See account by Katherine L. Smyth in Friends Intelligencer for Eleventh Month 20, 1943, pp. 769 ff.

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pacifist emphasis of the Intelligencer started a new paper called the Quaker. It had a good format and appearance, opening well with Marcia Doane as editor. She was the daughter of Wilson M . Doane, an Indianapolis lawyer and prominent Indiana Friend. T w o years later she was killed in an automobile accident and the Quaker was given upLooked at as an unfolding story of many manifestations during more than fifty years, Friends General Conference has shown in Jane Rushmore's view a steady strengthening in the vital concerns of a religious society. Beginning as an opportunity for the several Yearly Meetings to know each other better, it was strictly self-contained. Those interested in First-day schools, "philanthropic labor," and education conferred and compared. T h e y attracted a number of Friends; all had a good time together and were stimulated by finding themselves in a large group instead of feeling, as they did at home, that they were a tiny minority in their community. Then their small local Meetings began to receive definite help through the Advancement Committee, and their members were encouraged to attend institutes, summer schools, or take courses at Woolman School, all initiated by the Conference. In these schools and in the programs of the biennial Conferences definite stress was placed on the religious life, Bible study, and an outreach to others. Lecturers from outside groups of Friends gradually widened the acquaintance with English and American Quakerism. T h e remarkably devoted chairmen who led the Conference through this era were O. Edward Janney and Arthur C. Jackson, the first for twenty, the second for twenty-one years, followed by Bliss Forbush and now George A. W a l ton. These chairmen have been ably assisted in the office 104

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by the imagination and drive of Henry W . Wilbur and by the careful follow-up work of J . Barnard Walton, who became everyone's friend, welcomed throughout all the Y e a r l y Meetings as a visible bond of love and unity. Since his retirement in 1 9 5 1 he has been succeeded by E a r l e E d w a r d s , who hopes f o r still greater integration and strength of combined spiritual resources. Barnard Walton is now the field secretary. A s the Cape M a y gatherings have grown, as the visiting of the various meetings by traveling Friends has been encouraged, as the religious education material has improved with local conferences, study groups and institutes, and as, in cooperation with Friends Fellowship Council, new groups of seekers have been helped to form new Meetings, the influence of the Conference is everywhere apparent. While Friends have had a strong distrust of figures as a measure of progress, they do recognize that the value of the General Conference is at least in some part reflected by the fact that a f t e r its advent the long downward trend in membership among the Hicksite Y e a r l y Meetings stopped. T h e n there slowly started an upward curve. T h e total membership of the Conference Meetings is now in the neighborhood of 19,000 of which Philadelphia Y e a r l y Meeting numbers about 12,000. W i t h the entire history of the Conference, J a n e Rushmore has been familiar. H e r connection with it began during her teaching years at London G r o v e ; it continued f o r the period of her work at Starr Center, and went on all through her career with Philadelphia Y e a r l y Meeting. H e r time of greatest usefulness to the Conference was concurrent with her professional and voluntary service at Fifteenth and Race streets, f o r there she had at hand the tools to work with. H e r office did the major part of the

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C o n f e r e n c e p r i n t i n g and distribution. T h e f a c t t h a t the C o n f e r e n c e office and hers w e r e a d j a c e n t m a d e possible c o n s t a n t interchange of i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t was a d v a n t a geous to both. I t is her observation now t h a t increasingly a m a r k e d e m p h a s i s h a s been placed on the quest f o r spiritual values. M e e t i n g s f o r w o r s h i p receive special attention, r o u n d table conferences seek earnestly to u n d e r s t a n d the m o t i v a t ing f o r c e which leads F r i e n d s into h u m a n i t a r i a n service. T h e spiritual t e m p e r a t u r e , she says, has definitely risen. She has reason to know. She directed the w o r k done f o r t h e C o n f e r e n c e at F r i e n d s C e n t r a l B u r e a u . She served on t h e C o n f e r e n c e Philanthropic, First-day School, E d u cation, and A d v a n c e m e n t Committees. A s clerk of Philad e l p h i a Yearly M e e t i n g and then clerk of its Repres e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e she was an ex-officio m e m b e r of the C o n f e r e n c e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e f o r a long t e r m of y e a r s . A l t h o u g h she felt t h a t she stayed f a r t o o long in G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e councils, h e r voice was never h e a r d except in clear thinking and p u n g e n t p h r a s i n g . M o r e o v e r , in the last y e a r s she h a d become an elder s t a t e s m a n of extremely wide experience a m o n g Friends, f o r she h a d spent some t h i r t y - f o u r years in the very center of all the activities of R a c e Street Yearly M e e t i n g .

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At the Hub T h e important assistance given to the General Conference f o r many years by Friends Central Bureau has been repeatedly mentioned. A s it developed, that institution, externally merely an office f o r the convenience of the Yearly Meeting, has actually greatly extended the whole usefulness of Philadelphia Friends. In all its major aspects the Bureau has been the creation of Jane P. Rushmore. T a l k of it began in 1 9 1 1 when William C. Coles, chairman of Philadelphia's Philanthropic Committee, was growing impatient because work was being hampered by lack of clerical help. H e discovered that the First-day School Committee was irked by the same lack, and that while the Education Committee had a full-time officer in Ellen H . E . Price, she had no adequate working space. T h e persons looking f o r a way to deal with this problem had a strong supporter in Herbert P. Worth of West Chester, a man of action and chairman of the General Conference Committee on First-day Schools. H e wanted facilities f o r distributing lesson leaves since Henry Wilbur's small office f o r advancement work was in no way equipped to handle lesson material. These Friends decided to make a united appeal to the Yearly Meeting f o r an office and a secretary. T h e y had talked a good deal ahead of time and counted among their supporters M a r y H . Whitson, James H . Atkinson, Susan W . Janney, Benjamin F . Battin, Robert Pyle, and Frank Bartram. They hoped that their novel proposal might win enough f a v o r f o r a committee to be appointed to consider the matter and bring in recommendations the following year.

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A s anticipated, m a n y F r i e n d s w e r e v e r y doubtful. T h e w o r k of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g had a l w a y s been carried by volunteers as a religious duty. T h e new office meant the introduction of p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m , its h e a d might soon become the paid o r g a n i z e r and leader of the Society, volunt a r y service w o u l d l a r g e l y cease. F r i e n d s might lose sight of one of the basic principles of their o r g a n i z a t i o n — t h a t of the p e r s o n a l c a r r y i n g by each m e m b e r of a share in the whole w o r k of the M e e t i n g . W i t h w h a t J a n e calls " g r e a t perspiration of s o u l " the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g g r a p p l e d with the p r o b l e m . T h o s e w h o believed that clerical help was no infiltration of subversive anti-Quakerism s t r o v e to reassure the conservatives. P l e a s f o r w i d e r effectiveness of three i m p o r t a n t phases of Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w o r k had to be given due w e i g h t . A t last the M e e t i n g , considerably shaken out of its accustomed quiet routine, a p p e a r e d r e a d y f o r decision. N o vote w a s taken, of course. T o the surprise of even the strongest advocates of a central office, the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g a g r e e d that the three committees should select seven members each, which twenty-one F r i e n d s should h a v e authority to g i v e c a r e f u l thought to the setting up of a secretarial bureau under an a p p r o p r i a tion of $ 1 5 0 0 . T h e B u r e a u C o m m i t t e e went into action f o r t h w i t h . N a m i n g B e n j a m i n F . Battin as chairman, they laid out their needs, their limitations and possibilities, and they b e g a n their search f o r an office and a director. H e r b e r t W o r t h , w h o with E l l w o o d H o l l i n g s h e a d and M a r y H . W h i t s o n m a d e up the subcommittee to select a secretary, received a s t r o n g letter f r o m R o b e r t Pyle, stating in his most f o r c e f u l w a y his conviction that the one person preëminently suitable f o r the post of director w a s his f o r m e r teacher and his f a m i l y ' s long-time f r i e n d , J a n e P . R u s h 108

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more. J a n e was no stranger to H e r b e r t W o r t h . First-day school work in the Conference and the Y e a r l y Meeting had made them well acquainted. She may well have been his own nomination. Perhaps others suggested her also. In any event the committee approached her. She did not accept immediately. Starr Center was an established enterprise where her position was secure. She would cut her salary in half if she changed her job and she would face an uncertain future. On the other hand, her friend Susan W h a r t o n was giving up her close connection with the Center. J a n e had grown interested in Quaker outreach especially through her work with the Conference. A b o v e all, she found it hard to resist the opportunity of an experiment whose future scope she could not foresee but which seemed to have possibilities of growth. She agreed to begin work on October i , 1 9 1 1 . H e r salary was to be $ 1 0 0 0 a year. T h e new undertaking would be conducted on the large mid-city property at Fifteenth and Race streets, the recognized center f o r Y e a r l y Meeting interests. In 1 9 1 1 nearly all the buildings in the block bounded by Race, Fifteenth, Cherry, and M o l e streets were in actual use by Friends. T h e large meeting house, built in 1 8 5 6 , stood facing R a c e Street in the middle of the enclosure but was set f a r back f r o m the tall iron fence. T h e r e was room between f o r a good-sized plot of grass breaking the otherwise complete brick paving of the yard. T h e quiet desired f o r the house of worship was protected by a continuous line of buildings on Fifteenth Street. Friends' Central School, f o u r stories high, occupied the southeast corner of Fifteenth and R a c e streets. Between it and the Y o u n g Friends Association at Fifteenth and Cherry were several small residences, all but two of which were owned by the Meeting or by in109

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dividual F r i e n d s . T h e e l e m e n t a r y school w a s housed in a generous-sized structure at the R a c e and M o l e streets corner. A w a l l hid the row of tiny dwellings running the rest of the w a y along the n a r r o w lane of M o l e Street to C h e r r y . On C h e r r y Street another high brick w a l l , pierced by iron gates, completed the seclusion given to the g r e a t meeting house. A visitor m i g h t enter the precincts through the g a t e s on Race Street, or those on C h e r r y , or through one of the schools, or t h r o u g h a covered p a s s a g e leading f r o m F i f t e e n t h Street between F r i e n d s ' C e n t r a l School and the home of the superintendent of the property. T o one coming into the spacious y a r d an appreciable sense of separation f r o m the busy city w a s a l w a y s a p p a r e n t . T i t l e to different segments of this r e a l estate w a s variously held by several Q u a k e r groups. T h e C h e r r y Street end of the meeting house with its smaller auditorium w a s owned by the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , connecting by committee rooms with the l a r g e r R a c e Street section owned by the M o n t h l y M e e t i n g . D u r i n g most of the y e a r the Cherry Street side w a s kept closed and, says J a n e , "seemed to have no function except to collect dust." She comments further : O n e w e e k in t h e y e a r , w h e n Y e a r l y M e e t i n g c a m e a r o u n d , t h e m e n w e r e in g l o r i o u s possession. H e r e t h e y held s w a y u n t i l 1924 when the men's and women's meetings joined. Masculine independe n c e of f e m i n i n e r u l e w a s e s t a b l i s h e d w h e n t h e m e n r e f u s e d to h a v e t h e i r clock record d a y l i g h t - s a v i n g t i m e . Y e a r l y M e e t i n g on t h e R a c e S t r e e t s i d e b e g a n a t t e n o ' c l o c k ; on t h e C h e r r y S t r e e t side a t n i n e . T h e m e n a d j o u r n e d a t e l e v e n in o r d e r to be on h a n d for l u n c h w h i c h w a s s e r v e d a t noon, D S T , b y t h e h o s p i t a l i t y c o m m i t t e e of R a c e and Green Street M o n t h l y Meetings.

On Y e a r l y M e e t i n g First-day, crowds of F r i e n d s came to worship in both meeting houses and in the auditorium of F r i e n d s ' C e n t r a l School, and a f t e r w a r d in w a r m M a y ι io

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sunshine the yard was filled with a lingering throng milling happily about, seeking acquaintances from distant points come to town f o r the annual gathering. A s the years passed the aspect changed: the schools were removed to O v e r b r o o k ; offices were established in the elementary school building and in the Cherry Street Meeting House ; and the Y o u n g Friends Association headquarters were remodeled into the Whittier Hotel. But the location has remained modestly imposing. Religious, educational, philanthropic, and social interests of Friends have been fostered here f o r nearly a century. F o r the use of Friends Central Bureau in 1 9 1 1 two rooms had been secured at 1 5 0 N o r t h Fifteenth Street, on the first floor of one of the small houses which helped f o r m the eastern boundary of the Y e a r l y Meeting premises. T h e building was owned by a Race Street Monthly Meeting member, Isaac H . Clothier. T h e back room was assigned to Ellen H . E . Price f o r the work of the Y e a r l y Meeting's Education Committee. T h e front one was prepared f o r the new Bureau. Furniture was bought by the Representative Committee, which would also share in the coming services. Simplicity was the keynote. T w o desks were provided, f o u r chairs, one typewriter, and a "long-distance telephone." Nothing more. T h e executive and her typist might each seat a visiting F r i e n d ; further amenities or working materials would be supplied by conversation and the desk drawers. W h e n J a n e insinuated herself into the diminutive room in October it was clear that the restraint of the furnishings committee was not entirely mistaken. Finding a f e w books f o r the use of the First-day School Committee, she piled them on the floor. Susan W . Janney, a member of the Bureau Committee, saw these one day with disapproval. " W h a t are the books doing on the

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floor?" she asked. " T h e r e isn't any other place to put t h e m , " J a n e explained. Susan soon persuaded someone to give a bookcase, which was squeezed in, and the B u r e a u ' s lending library w a s established. F i v e books w e r e loaned the first y e a r . T h e minute under which the Bureau w a s o p e r a t i n g r e a d : " T h e secretary is to have a general view of conditions existing in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , to make a study of the practical problems, and so organize and coordinate the w o r k that individuals may spend their efforts to the greatest a d v a n t a g e . " W h e n she had been first interviewed about the position J a n e had said, " I have one g o o d qualification. I have the ability to say N o . " W h a t e v e r w a s office business to serve the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g she u n d e r t o o k ; what was not, she r e f u s e d . J a n e made the decisions, using as her guide the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ' s own determination that no part of its p r e r o g a t i v e s should be assumed by the Bureau, but only the mechanics of carrying out the M e e t ing's w o r k . T h e other boundary to the activities w a s the budget. E v e n in 1 9 1 1 an appropriation of $ 1 5 0 0 could not possibly have covered rent, two salaries, and office expenses had the B u r e a u not opened late in the fiscal y e a r ( M a y to M a y ) . T o stretch the money over eight months was close w o r k . Some financial assistance came f r o m F r i e n d s G e n e r a l Conference. A t the beginning, the Bureau C o m m i t t e e h a d been charged to write to the Conference F i r s t - d a y School Committee and other organizations inviting them to m a k e use of the services offered and to assist in their s u p p o r t . Immediately an arrangement was made with the C o n f e r ence by which it paid to have the office business of its F i r s t day School Committee transacted and its lessons printed and distributed. 112

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F o r the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g the first business in hand was to organize existing material and resources more effectively. A card list was begun of the total membership of Race Street Y e a r l y Meeting. A few local Meetings furnished their lists cheerfully, but some had to be persuaded with assurances that they would be confidential and never used commercially. One M e e t i n g thought it not worth while as an undertaking; the list is changing every week, they said. Eventually all complied. T h e plan was hard to initiate, but is now a valuable reference file kept up to date annually. T h e efforts for accuracy made by the Monthly M e e t i n g s and the Bureau had some adverse effects statistically f o r several years, but with paper losses written off a sounder picture emerged. Several Meetings actually found it to their advantage, for the quota of financial support to the Y e a r l y Meeting, based on membership, was more precisely apportioned and the justice o f the assessments won b e t t e r collections. W h i l e this was in progress the work o f servicing the committees also began. T h o s e most interested in setting up the Bureau at once asked to have their notices sent out. " C e r t a i n l y , " said J a n e . " W h a t about the p o s t a g e ? " " J u s t send the bill to our committee and it will be refunded." " B u t I have no money with which to buy the stamps, and the post office does not give credit to committees." So J a m e s H . Atkinson, a professional accountant, already treasurer o f numerous Quaker organizations, among them the Central Bureau, set up the first petty cash system. N o t more than two dollars was ever advanced by the Bureau at that time, enough to send out notices of regular meetings. In all these small and seemingly unimportant beginnings J a n e was extremely careful that every step should be clearly in a direction that would not cause later confu" 3

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sion but would lead into a useful pattern. A m o n g the first rules adopted was one that the office should never reply to any inquiry with " I don't know." T h e Bureau was set up f o r service and if answers were not available, the staff should always say, " I don't have that information at hand just now, but I'll look it up f o r thee." In her personal preparation f o r her position, J a n e had read all the reports of Y e a r l y Meeting committees f o r the previous thirty years. She found that not much accomplishment was recorded, minutes were sometimes f a r f r o m clear, with decisions hazy or blurred, and the records kept in all sorts of books. T h e Bureau's offer to type the minutes in itself induced better written and more unified forms. T h e same thing happened with committee personnel. Members were practically never taken off a committee except by definite request, f o r the plan of definite terms of service had not yet been adopted. Lists were cluttered with names of inactive Friends; addresses had not been overhauled f o r years. Some people did not even know they were supposed to be on certain committees. Bringing order out of this confusion was a major task. A third undertaking of the Bureau was the printing of the Friends' Almanac, a booklet, by then much out of date, of locations and times of holding all meetings in the Friends General Conference. With the facilities which the new Bureau had f o r gathering current facts f r o m the Meetings, in 1 9 1 3 the Representative Committee, through the Bureau, put out the Friends Year Book (later the Calendar) containing a large amount of material about Meetings, their First-day schools, Friends Associations, names of clerks, and so forth. Since 1949, when Arch Street Friends joined in its publication, it has been made The Calendar of all Meetings in the Philadelphia area.

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AT T H E H U B A Book of Meetings was printed f r o m time to time, listing all the Meetings in the Conference and how to reach them, and the committees of Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . I t also offered the names, adressses, and officers of a number of organizations which were started by Friends and predominantly Friendly though not under the direct care of a Race Street Meeting, such as the American Friends Service Committee, or, dating f r o m an earlier century, Friends Charity Fuel Association, and T h e Female Association of Philadelphia f o r the Relief of the Sick and Infirm P o o r with Clothing ( f o r many years, beginning soon a f t e r its founding in 1 8 2 8 , " E t c e t e r a " was added as the last w o r d in the title, signifying bread distributed or blankets loaned f o r the winter season and then r e c a l l e d ! ) . Since the Friends W o r l d Committee now prints a directory of all Meetings, it seems unlikely that the listing of Conference Meetings will appear again. A s the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g sessions came around the new Bureau proved to be of great service. It typed the minutes f r o m the clerk's notes and it took over the preparation and printing of the Extracts which were taken f r o m the minutes and circulated among the local Meetings. T h e n it began investigating how many copies of the Extracts were actually used and how many just lay on the back benches and window sills. T h u s considerable waste was eliminated. A number of years later the practice was begun of printing in advance the reports to be submitted by standing committees to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . T h e s e were used at its sessions as well as in the local Meetings. J a n e was still not satisfied that the Bureau was fulfilling its mission in spite of all the services it was rendering to committees, visitors, and through the mails. She felt that she herself must be really acquainted with local conditions. 11

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So a f t e r w o r k i n g in the office six d a y s a w e e k , she spent most of her S u n d a y s visiting M e e t i n g s . In the first f e w y e a r s she went at least once to e v e r y M e e t i n g within the R a c e Street boundaries except t h r e e : Schuylkill, then closed: G r e e n w i c h , which at that time h a d only five attendere; and O r a n g e G r o v e , C a l . , quite out of reach. But M i l l v i l l e , P a . , and C a m d e n , D e l . , each roughly one hundred miles f r o m P h i l a d e l p h i a , she reached by none too convenient public conveyances. A local resident of M i l l ville told her that the little " S . B . & B . " R a i l r o a d which served M i l l v i l l e w a s known as " S u n d r y B u m p s and Bruises." It was important that the local M e e t i n g s should feel not only that the B u r e a u w a s useful to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g and its committees, but that the office h a d something to offer them individually which they could use. T h e most obvious service w a s in connection with their F i r s t - d a y schools. T h e schools w e r e o r d e r i n g lesson m a t e r i a l r a t h e r at random. I n d e e d in one of the western M e e t i n g s J a n e discovered that when the F i r s t - d a y school assured her that they had g r a d e d lessons they meant that they used the first quarter in the first class, the second quarter in the next class, and so on. It was evident that steps must be taken to help schools understand how to use the material furnished. H e r e the B u r e a u o f f e r e d v a l u a b l e counsel. F o r seven y e a r s it thus built itself into g r e a t e r usefulness. B y 1 9 1 8 it was so c r a m p e d f o r space that some change had to be m a d e . H e r b e r t P . W o r t h , w h o h a d the y e a r b e f o r e succeeded B e n j a m i n B a t t i n as c h a i r m a n of the B u r e a u C o m m i t t e e , a g r e e d that the time h a d come f o r expansion. T h e consent of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w a s obtained to w a l l off a p a r t of the east end of the C h e r r y Street M e e t i n g H o u s e , under the g a l l e r y , to g i v e space 116

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that would make possible a second assistant f o r J a n e , and also a desk f o r the secretary of the new Y o u n g Friends Movement. T h i s latter organization was only two years old. T h e Young Friends Associations, which had been started thirty years before on the initiative of Charles M . Stabler, Isaac Roberts, and others, had spread rapidly through the Y e a r l y Meeting and had served a good purpose in providing social mingling and acquaintance through literary, musical, or study programs. But in time their special attraction appeared to be f o r middle-aged Friends. Finally Rachel Knight, a gifted young member of Abington Meeting, went to E n g l a n d to study and came home filled with desire to get the really young people into action. L a r g e l y through her incentive the Y o u n g Friends M o v e ment was organized in 1 9 1 6 . T w o years later E l i z a Ambler ( F o u l k e ) became its first secretary. E l i z a found it her great good fortune to be situated so near to J a n e Rushmore, f o r in J a n e the new young executive recognized a remarkable teacher of administration, instructor in Quaker background, and mine of information on persons and events. J a n e told E l i z a , " Y o u n g people won't get on a sinking ship. T h e e ' l l have to be going somewhere." J a n e was a firm believer in young people; she expected much of them and they rose to her standards. E l i z a is sure that the Y o u n g Friends M o v e m e n t owes much of its good start to J a n e . On the other hand, J a n e saw in E l i z a a very able leader throughout her five years' service. She was a natural organizer. She started weekend pilgrimages of young people to various Meetings. On these trips the young Friends were well shuffled as they came f r o m and went to distant points, they had a project, they had a good time, they were stimulating to the Meet117

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ings v i s i t e d . A n u m b e r of p e o p l e w h o h a v e g i v e n m e m o r able s e r v i c e to the S o c i e t y of F r i e n d s in t h e i r m a t u r e l i f e , such as A n n a G r i s c o m ( E l k i n t o n ) a n d T h o m a s A . F o u l k e ( w h o m a r r i e d the Y o u n g F r i e n d s ' s e c r e t a r y ) , enthusiastically b e g a n with i m p o r t a n t w o r k a m o n g their y o u n g contemporaries. T h i s l i v e l y g r o u p did n o t like d i v i s i o n s . F r o m the beg i n n i n g they h a d m a n y activities w i t h a s i m i l a r , t h o u g h originally somewhat older, group f r o m A r c h Street. W i t h t h e m they a t t e n d e d j o i n t c o n f e r e n c e s at E a r l h a m a n d W e s t t o w n , a n d in 1 9 3 0 they b e c a m e one united o r g a n i z a tion in P h i l a d e l p h i a . T h i s c o m p l e t e l y united b o d y h a s u n d o u b t e d l y h a d a s t r o n g effect on the g r o w i n g t r e n d tow a r d union b e t w e e n the t w o Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . Headq u a r t e r s f o r the Y o u n g F r i e n d s h a v e a l w a y s been w i t h i n o r a d j o i n i n g the F r i e n d s C e n t r a l B u r e a u . F u r t h e r m o v e s of the B u r e a u f o l l o w e d the one in 1 9 1 8 , a l w a y s to g a i n m o r e space. In 1 9 2 1 a m o v e w a s m a d e to 1 5 4 N o r t h F i f t e e n t h S t r e e t , a s m a l l h o u s e b e l o n g i n g to Philadelphia M o n t h l y M e e t i n g and rented f r o m them. H e r e the B u r e a u h a d use of the entire b u i l d i n g , a n d h e r e they r e m a i n e d until 1 9 2 8 . B y this time the men a n d w o m e n h a d united f o r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g a n d the R a c e S t r e e t side w a s used f o r all sessions. C o n s e q u e n t l y , e x t e n s i v e a l t e r a tions w e r e possible to c r e a t e the p r e s e n t offices in C h e r r y S t r e e t M e e t i n g H o u s e . A t this time J a n e R u s h m o r e u r g e d the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g T r u s t e e s to t a k e q u a r t e r s h e r e a n d build v a u l t s in the b a s e m e n t , thus s a v i n g rental c h a r g e s e l s e w h e r e . B u t the v a u l t s w e r e n e v e r built and the T r u s tees did not m o v e in until 1 9 5 0 , w h e n f u r t h e r c h a n g e s w e r e m a d e c o n v e r t i n g the g a l l e r y a l s o into u s a b l e office s p a c e . A s the g r o w i n g B u r e a u r e c e i v e d m o r e a n d m o r e requests f o r aid, J a n e ' s policies, e s t a b l i s h e d e a r l y , s h o w e d 118

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themselves to be wise. In the main they were, first, to relieve committees of routine work and to do everything possible to promote volunteer activity; second, to establish a center of information about Friends and of information that Friends want; third, to eliminate waste and duplication. T o a group like the Society of Friends the last of these so strongly commended itself that it alone could practically silence any criticism of the Bureau. W h e r e criticism arose at the beginning it concerned the old f e a r that the office would expect to do everything f o r the Yearly Meeting. But as committee officers and members came to the Bureau they soon found in its director a sympathetic listener, a counselor and adviser, but definitely not an executive to do their work f o r them. H e r fertile and practical mind often m a d e suggestions which they could carry out, or stimulated them to discovering something more active to do. When they came to her baffled with a problem, she did not demonstrate their error out of her experience. She persuaded them to talk until they had shown up the entire issue. H e r probing finally m a d e them analyze the question so completely that they themselves knew the answer. She says now that people nearly always know how they ought to decide things if they see the problem clearly. " T h e y came to me and thought they had fine advice. Actually they hadn't had any. T h e y found their own answers." J a n e ' s skill as a teacher was still being turned to account. A s a source of information the list of correct names and addresses was only a start. Files were built up which a m a s s e d and classified a considerable accumulation of material on religious and secular education and the testimonies of the Society of Friends. T h e staff could produce material f o r preparing debates, or writing papers, or 119

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s u p p l e m e n t i n g r e l i g i o u s t e a c h i n g , o r s e r v i n g as t h e b a s i s f o r l o c a l c o m m i t t e e a c t i o n . N o w a d a y s t h e a n s w e r to an i n q u i r e r is s e l d o m , " I ' l l be g l a d t o l o o k t h a t u p f o r t h e e . " U s u a l l y it is r i g h t a t h a n d . B e c a u s e the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w a s a n d is c o n s e r v a t i v e , care w a s taken to p r o c e e d with g r e a t r e g u l a r i t y . " M a n y enthusiastic, earnest, and perhaps right w o r k e r s aren't w i l l i n g to m o v e t h r o u g h r e g u l a r channels, and people don't trust t h e m , " Jane observes now. " I tried to respect all honest conservatism, but occasionally I liked to jolt p e o p l e w h o love ruts out o f the old and into new ones w h i c h a r e j u s t as c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e y g o a l i t t l e f a r t h e r as they m o v e . " So much increased service could not be accomplished w i t h o u t i n c r e a s e s in staff a n d e q u i p m e n t . S l o w l y l a b o r s a v i n g m a c h i n e s w e r e a d d e d ; s l o w l y the n u m b e r o f assista n t s r o s e . In 1 9 2 4 w h e n field w o r k in e d u c a t i o n a n d religious education was undertaken, a fourth assistant w a s a d d e d . B y 1 9 3 6 the staff n u m b e r e d six, o n e o f t h e m a secretary f o r social service. T h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g never r e f u s e d a request f o r m o r e money f o r the B u r e a u . F r i e n d s k n e w t h a t J a n e w o u l d n o t a s k an i n c r e a s e f o r h e r s e l f ; it all w e n t into l a r g e r s e r v i c e s w h o s e w o r t h h a d b e e n d e m o n strated. Indeed, a l t h o u g h her salary w a s raised o v e r the i n i t i a l figure, J a n e a l w a y s h a d v e r y m o d e r a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n , s o little t h a t s o m e F r i e n d s w e r e a s h a m e d f o r the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , and more would have been had they k n o w n the f a c t s . B u t f o r J a n e p e r s o n a l r e c o g n i t i o n w a s n o t i m p o r t a n t ; h e r idea w a s t o s u b o r d i n a t e t h e B u r e a u a n d its staff to the c o m m i t t e e s , the office a c t i n g as a g e n e r a l coordinator. It did become evident, however, that a useful purpose w a s s e r v e d if staff m e m b e r s w e r e a p p o i n t e d o n v a r i o u s o f χ 20

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the Y e a r l y Meeting committees. Such appointments were valuable to both sides; the committees had immediate access to knowledge gained in the field by the Bureau personnel, and the office knew the reactions and attitudes of committee members. Specific services were added by the Bureau from time to time, such as selling a few books of special interest to Friends and furnishing marriage certificates. T h e Bureau was given charge of completed minute books of all kinds, which were stored in the fireproof room of the meeting house. H e r e they were considered safe but were not easily accessible. T h e r e f o r e when by the g i f t of Clement M . Biddle a fireproof building f o r the Friends Historical L i b r a r y was opened at Swarthmore College, many records were transferred there, to the greater satisfaction of all who wanted to use them. J a n e has been on the staff of honorary custodians since this library was started. In addition to serving the Y e a r l y Meeting's committees and Philadelphia Quarterly and Monthly Meetings, assembling information, statistics, and offering counsel, the Bureau has carried a large, continuing program of printing and distribution. T h e series of lesson leaves, which had been issued since 1 8 8 5 , was the first in this line. T h e n came the publication of the First-day School Bulletin, beginning in 1 9 1 6 . F o r the work on both of these the General Conference made an appropriation which covered printing and mailing. In 1 9 1 7 the Bureau took over the business management and circulation of Scattered Seeds, a monthly magazine f o r small children. This little paper started by L y d i a H a l l in 1869 contained suitable stories, verses, and pictures f o r children in First-day schools. T h e r e was nothing like it available to Friends, and it was f o r many years a very helpful addition to the material f o r 121

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primary classes. A f t e r L y d i a Hall's death, her daughters Alice H a l l Paxson and Abby M a r y H a l l Roberts published it, and they continued as its editors a f t e r the Bureau assumed the business details. In 1 9 3 5 , with the advent of considerably more reading material suitable f o r young children, Scattered Seeds was discontinued. Mention has been made of the first small hymnal produced f o r the General Conference in 1 9 1 9 ; several subsequent and larger editions were printed, involving a great deal of work with copyright and other technical matters. Somewhat less difficult was the printing of a book of religious poems and prose selections called The Higher Life. T h i s appeared in two volumes and has been useful to Friends who want to know where to find inspiring words, especially in times of affliction or death. A somewhat similar book called Founding a Home, prepared in 1946 but now out of print, also served a helpful purpose. These two compilations were produced under the authority of the Representative Committee, but the Bureau did all the work of preparing and distributing them. It also carried through the regular printing and distribution of the Messenger, a small periodical of the Representative Committee now reaching six thousand copies per issue, and the Courier, prepared f o r the Committee on Education. A s early as 1 9 2 4 Jane began to reduce the time that she spent in the Bureau. A t intervals over the next twenty years she slowly lessened her official number of days per week until in 1945 she resigned all her duties, turning over to Marguerite Hallowell the charge of the office and to Richmond P. Miller the work in the field. T h e expansion of the Bureau during her thirty-four years as its head attests her power of organization, promotion, and persuasiveness. From a staff of two to a staff 122

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of nine; f r o m a budget of $ 1 5 0 0 to one of $ 2 4 , 0 0 0 ; f r o m five books loaned in 1 9 1 1 to more than 1 3 5 0 taken out in 1 9 5 2 ; f r o m assisting five committees at the start to w o r k ing f o r eighteen Y e a r l y M e e t i n g committees, their twenty subcommittees, plus serving Philadelphia Q u a r t e r l y and M o n t h l y M e e t i n g s , the clerk and the treasurer of Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , the clerk and the Planning C o m mittee of Philadelphia G e n e r a l M e e t i n g , and the R e l i g i o u s Education Committee of Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e ; m i m e o g r a p h i n g material that now amounts to m o r e than 1 6 , 0 0 0 pieces per y e a r — a l l of this g r o w t h accomplished to the general satisfaction of the membership attests to J a n e R u s h m o r e ' s p o w e r of organization and to the Tightness of the pattern she set. T h e r e has been a constant effort to increase production without increasing costs. In one of her reports ( 1 9 4 1 ) J a n e remarked, T h e centralized control of e v e r y b o d y ' s time and use of the same office equipment enables the Bureau to accomplish a much greater a m o u n t of work with a smaller expenditure of money than would be the case under an organization . . . where every office is independent of every other office and a larger number of secretaries are paid.

But, as everyone in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g knows, technical and material services w e r e only a p a r t of J a n e ' s importance as secretary of the Bureau. In the first place she trained her assistants by giving them a b a c k g r o u n d of F r i e n d s ' principles, a history of the M e e t i n g s , and acquaintance with local situations. T h e r e f o r e , as she withd r e w , their knowledge w a s adequate to c a r r y on. T h e i r initiative was encouraged and their suggestions f o r increasing efficiency of the w o r k were gladly received and 123

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considered. " A spirit of m u t u a l cooperation and helpfulness w a s an i m p o r t a n t asset in m a k i n g the B u r e a u valua b l e , " J a n e said. " T h e evolution of the w o r k in the office and field w a s l a r g e l y due to the intelligence and loyalty of the B u r e a u f o r c e . " W i t h her unusual m e m o r y she became such an encyclopedia of i n f o r m a t i o n that she w a s consulted by almost everyone who h a d any business w h a t e v e r in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . She could h a v e m a n i p u l a t e d every one of its committees by her f a v o r a b l e or a d v e r s e suggestions for its membership. Indeed as she came to see how much power lay in her hands, she recognized it as a d a n g e r . N o one person should have so much influence in the Society of Friends, she said. T h e r e f o r e she tried her best to keep her h a n d s off local affairs. F r i e n d s w e r e sometimes annoyed when she would not t a k e action which they thought would be h e l p f u l . In her mind it w a s still more h e l p f u l to put the responsibility on others. W h a t she did try to do w a s to encourage more people to assume their share of the work, to stimulate them into new thinking a p p r o p r i a t e to new situations. She tried not to dictate judgments, but to be sure that those who should m a k e them saw all the w a y around the question and had all the facts in hand before they m a d e their decisions, so that their action w a s m a t u r e and well reasoned. One Friend, summing up her w o r k at the Bureau, s a y s : "She tried to hold the v a r i o u s elements of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in balance, check f a l s e starts, prevent trouble b e f o r e it arose. A measure of her success is t h a t she had the confidence of both as conservative a man as A l f r e d M o o r e and as radical a one as J e s s e H o l m e s . " N o t t h a t everyone a g r e e d with her. N o one could be so positive a force in such a key place without meeting op124

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position. Some took issue with her on her basic reasoning. Some were occasionally hurt by her incisive mind and decided views. Some saw that she was apt to be impatient with people who didn't get things done, although she would not tolerate efforts to displace any who had served faithfully. Some thought her actions were at times arbitrary. But there could be none who questioned her singleminded devotion to the Yearly Meeting, her lack of selfseeking, her constant generosity in time and strength to all that concerned the fundamentals of her religious society and the fellowship of those who were within its bounds.

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/li a Reasonable Service J a n e Rushmore's professional activity at the Central Bureau, plus her contribution to Friends General Conference through its several divisions and its Central Committee, made up only a fraction of her work f o r the Y e a r l y Meeting. She also took part in a long list of committees, often f o r long terms of appointment. While she was still at Starr Center, she was in 1908 made a member of the Y e a r l y Meeting Committee on First-day schools. She was also at the same time "general secretary," or volunteer adviser, of the same committee of the Conference. Close to the center of her interest as this work always had been, she began with these appointments to learn more of the actual conditions in the field. T h e lesson leaves were not adequate, she saw, and there was a great dearth of trained teachers; in fact the Friends did not know very much about how to produce good First-day schools. T h e Philadelphia committee charged with this concern was, therefore, beginning what was to be a long-sustained effort to develop First-day schools that were really schools and not just amateur attempts with more or less appropriate readings and stories. Again it must be recalled that f o r a long period Friends were opposed to definite religious instruction of this type and so lagged f a r behind other denominations in its cultivation. But a real start in grading was initiated—not too successfully because sometimes there were but a few children in the school and these with a wide age range. A fairly continuous stream of new material was being prepared, whose quality J a n e at once sought to improve. T h e r e were usually two sets of les127

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sons issued per y e a r as a quarterly series, one f o r adults and one f o r children. B e f o r e long J a n e was writing a good number of them, some bearing her name but most of them unsigned. A n especially popular series, " A n E l e m e n t a r y Study of the B i b l e , " g a v e a survey of the whole book f o r adults untrained in Bible study. E x p e r t s were w a r n e d a w a y f r o m it. J a n e made no pretension of being a Biblical scholar but she w a s entirely able to write an adequate general introduction to the significance of the Scriptures. O t h e r courses on interpretation of the Bible, origins of Q u a k e r i s m , studies in vital religion, on religion as affecting such areas of life as racial tensions, scientific advances, problems of nationalism, basic f r e e d o m s , all flowed f r o m her pen. One series p r o v e d so u s e f u l that it w a s enlarged and printed as a book, Testimonies and Practice of the Society of Friends. Its purpose, it states, is to p r o v i d e " a r e a d y reference book covering the religious p r o f e s s i o n , social concern, educational interest and the o r g a n i z a t i o n of F r i e n d s , " the presentation being of course that of R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . T h i s volume, printed in 1 9 3 6 and again in 1 9 4 5 , has become a s t a n d a r d w o r k in the religious education library. In addition to her indefatigable authorship of lessons, a m a j o r contribution to religious education made by J a n e w a s the preparation f r o m 1 9 1 6 to 1 9 4 5 of the quarterly First-day School Bulletin (since 1 9 4 2 Religious Education Bulletin). She wrote almost the entire content until the last five y e a r s when her lessened f a m i l i a r i t y with the field caused her to invite perhaps 1 5 per cent of the material f r o m others. E a c h number was f o u r pages. R e a d i n g the Bulletin through as a whole, we find in it r e m a r k a b l e imagination, variety, and fertility of ideas. It presents original object lessons, games, puzzles, acrostics, enigmas, 128

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true and false tests, Bible quizzes. It suggests s t a n d a r d s to test fitness of m a t e r i a l , m e t h o d s of conducting a class, devices f o r teaching. "Some teachers are born and not made, but most of our successful ones are s e l f - m a d e , " the a u t h o r r e m a r k s . Specific p r o g r a m s are given occasionally, particularly if they are ones originally w o r k e d out by a First-day school class, such as an experiment in writing present-day psalms, or a m o d e r n litany of praise, or a p r o j e c t of a whole school in the history of its M e e t i n g , care of its p r o p e r t y , or in social service. C a r e f u l planning of the class w o r k by teachers is repeatedly urged, and the constant keeping in mind of the essential p u r p o s e of the First-day school. " S p i r i t u a l g r o w t h cannot be a t t a i n e d by any magic f o r m u l a . I t comes m o r e slowly than physical g r o w t h a n d never reaches a stopping place unless it is stunted or suffers injury. L i k e physical g r o w t h , it thrives by w h a t it feeds upon. Firstday school teachers a r e e n g a g e d in purveying n u t r i m e n t . " * A t a n o t h e r time she points o u t : T h e purpose of religious education is not t o solve special problems, b u t to develop people who will be able to solve difficult problems as t h e y arise. T h e material used in classes is a tool to help t h e teacher's work of helping develop morally courageous, spiritually sensitive, and intellectually alert individuals. Such being t h e case, t h e subject m a t t e r of lesson texts is of less importance t h a n t h e w a y it is used-'f

J a n e w a s p r e p a r e d to give all the assistance she could t o any teacher or school t h a t consulted h e r . She has always been p r i m a r i l y an educator h e r s e l f , and teaching teachers has been one h e r g r e a t abilities. But sometimes t o o much was asked of h e r . She cautions in the Bulletin, " H e a d q u a r t e r s wishes to announce t h a t it has no supply * First-day School Bulletin, Vol. XXVIII, No. 1. t Ibid., Vol. XXVI, No. 2.

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o f t e a c h e r s on h a n d e i t h e r f o r sale, r e n t , o r g r a t u i t o u s d i s t r i b u t i o n . . . . E v e r y F r i e n d s ' c o m m u n i t y should be developing teachers for home consumption."* A g a i n and a g a i n the emphasis is on worship. P r a y e r f o r children is helpfully discussed, and t r a i n i n g f o r Q u a k e r w o r s h i p . " T h e t h e o r y o f w o r s h i p o u g h t t o be c a r e f u l l y t a u g h t in every F i r s t - d a y school. T h i s m a y be accomp l i s h e d either t h r o u g h e x p l a n a t i o n t o the school as a w h o l e , by class instruction, o r by continued effort t h r o u g h the g r o u p interest o f the y o u n g e r children, conducted s o m e w h a t a f t e r the m a n n e r o f a k i n d e r g a r t e n m o r n i n g circle. Such instruction should a p p e a l t o the intellect, the e m o t i o n s , and the will. T o the intellect so t h a t we m a y u n d e r s t a n d w h a t it m e a n s to l i f t up our h e a r t s to G o d and why we F r i e n d s w o r s h i p in silence; to the e m o t i o n s so t h a t we m a y feel the need and desire to enter into a s t a t e o f w o r s h i p ; and to the will so t h a t we will decide to try to use o u r opportunities f o r w o r s h i p . " f S h e a d d s : S c h o o l s o u g h t t o m a k e m o r e effort t o i m p r e s s upon classes t h a t J e s u s was a pioneer, a vigorous and fearless leader into the realm oí new details and practices. A d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e a m o u n t of t i m e is s p e n t o n b i r t h stories a n d m i r a c l e s ! a n d n o t e n o u g h on t h e s t r e n g t h a n d p o w e r of a g r e a t l e a d e r w h o m we are c h a l l e n g e d t o follow.?

A n d when in worship and in life we h a v e begun to try to f o l l o w him " w e are likely to act as J e s u s acted if we feel as he felt t o w a r d m e n . " í í In one o f the last numbers t h a t * Ibid.,

Vol. X X I I I , N o . 4 .

t Ibid.,

Vol. X I , N o . 1.

+ V e r b a l correction m a d e by J . P . R . § First-day H Ibid.,

Schoo! Bulletin,

Vol. X X V , N o . 3.

Vol. X V I , N o . 2. 130

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she w r o t e , J a n e speaks a g a i n of the need of l e a d e r s h i p by the teachers in b r i n g i n g children to a reliance on G o d . " I f w e expect to teach children to believe in unseen realities, it is necessary that w e o u r s e l v e s should trust unseen powers."* I t is impossible to s e p a r a t e J a n e ' s w o r k f o r the P h i l a delphia c o m m i t t e e f r o m t h a t done f o r the C o n f e r e n c e , especially a f t e r the o p e n i n g of the B u r e a u . T h e w r i t i n g of lessons, the courses in t e a c h e r training, the counseling g i v e n to the schools, w e r e done f o r F r i e n d s t h r o u g h o u t the C o n f e r e n c e . P h i l a d e l p h i a , h o w e v e r , especially develo p e d activity in r e l i g i o u s education, as it h a d by f a r the l a r g e s t n u m b e r o f schools. O f a p p r o x i m a t e l y one hund r e d schools in the C o n f e r e n c e in 1 9 3 7 , P h i l a d e l p h i a h a d a b o u t sixty-five, B a l t i m o r e and N e w Y o r k each a b o u t fifteen, and the s m a l l e r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s only t w o or t h r e e apiece. W h e n the l e g a c y f r o m E m m a R . C o m l y f o r the use of P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g c r e a t e d the C o m l y F u n d in 1 9 3 5 , a g r a n t w a s m a d e to p r o v i d e study c o u r s e s f o r teachers. E n r o l l e d classes w e r e a r r a n g e d w i t h a p a i d l e a d e r , and b o o k s w e r e l o a n e d f r o m the C e n t r a l B u r e a u l i b r a r y . T h e f u n d also h e l p e d the training w o r k at C a m p K e e w a d i n and in these t w o w a y s benefited all the C o n f e r ence teachers. In recent y e a r s u n d e r the direction o f A m e l i a W . S w a y n e excellent w o r k h a s been done in the P h i l a d e l p h i a a r e a w i t h a well-sustained p r o g r a m o f l o c a l institutes. R e g u l a r visiting of the schools w a s i n a u g u r a t e d in first by a c o m m i t t e e o f v o l u n t e e r s , w h o s e expenses p a i d by the F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e , and l a t e r p a r t - t i m e m e m b e r o f the C e n t r a l B u r e a u staff. A • Ibid., Vol. X X X , No. 1.

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deal of effort has thus constantly gone into trying to bring the religious schools to some degree of efficiency, which, however, never remains constant because of the turnover in superintendents and teachers and the lack of overhead authority. Curricula have to be adapted to the widely differing conditions and schools have to be persuaded sometimes to do more work than they had hoped. Jane once advised : T h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r u s e d in F i r s t - d a y s c h o o l s is i m p o r t a n t b u t is n o t t h e o n l y t h i n g w h i c h h e l p s t o m a k e t h e s u c c e s s of a s c h o o l . T e a c h e r s n e e d n o t o n l y t o m a k e a w i s e c h o i c e of s u b j e c t m a t t e r , b u t t o s t u d y t h e m e t h o d a n d o r d e r in w h i c h it is p r e s e n t e d f r o m g r a d e t o g r a d e . T h e c e n t r a l o f f i c e h a s no s e l f - a c t i n g m a t e r i a l . *

T h e Religious Education Committee (thus renamed in 1 9 4 1 ) now has struggled f o r sixty years to develop skills in transmitting religious teaching to children. Perhaps its aims have been most clearly defined in the Bulletin f o r First Month, 1 9 3 6 , in which the objectives were stated thus : 1. R e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n s e e k s t o f o s t e r in g r o w i n g p e r s o n s a c o n s c i o u s n e s s of G o d a s a r e a l i t y in h u m a n e x p e r i e n c e , a s e n s e of p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o H i m , a n d t h e p r a c t i c e of c o m m u n i n g w i t h H i m t h r o u g h worship (finding H i m through J e s u s ' teaching and example, finding H i m t h r o u g h t h e I n n e r L i g h t ) ; 2. r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n s e e k s t o g u i d e g r o w i n g p e r s o n s in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e h i g h e s t m o r a l c h a r a c t e r w i t h t h e a i m of a p p l y i n g t h e C h r i s t i a n m o t i v e in t h e m a k i n g of all l i f e c h o i c e s ; 3. r e l i g i o u s e d u c a t i o n s e e k s t o g u i d e g r o w i n g p e r s o n s in finding G o d i n c r e a s i n g l y t h r o u g h s e r v i c e w i t h a n d f o r m e n .

F o r thirty-one years J a n e Rushmore sat on the Religious Education Committee. A s she watched its work f r o m almost the start to the present time, she finds that there have in fact been great advances. T h e Committee, • Ibid., Vol. I, No. 4.

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now c o o p e r a t i n g with a s i m i l a r c o m m i t t e e o f A r c h S t r e e t , has active s u b g r o u p s w o r k i n g on c u r r i c u l u m , t e a c h e r training, w o r s h i p , h o m e and f a m i l y , and on h i g h - s c h o o l y o u n g p e o p l e . W i t h A m e l i a W . S w a y n e as c h a i r m a n , it is one o f the v e r y effective a r m s o f the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . In 1 9 1 2 , w h e n her m o s t active w o r k f o r the F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e w a s just b e g i n n i n g , J a n e w a s also app o i n t e d to P h i l a d e l p h i a ' s P h i l a n t h r o p i c C o m m i t t e e . In 1892 the C o m m i t t e e on the S u b j e c t o f P h i l a n t h r o p i c L a b o r had been set up t o b r i n g into c l o s e r r e l a t i o n s h i p the social interests of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . I t included the f o r m e r l y s e p a r a t e c o m m i t t e e s on P e a c e and A r b i t r a t i o n , T e m p e r a n c e and T o b a c c o , I m p r o p e r P u b l i c a t i o n s , I n d i a n A f f a i r s , and the C o l o r e d P e o p l e . ( T h e p r i n c i p a l a c t i v i t y o f the last o f these c o m m i t t e e s w a s s u p p o r t o f a f e w schools in the S o u t h f o r N e g r o e s . ) S h o r t l y a f t e r J a n e ' s a p p o i n t m e n t the r e v e r s e p r o c e s s o f f r a g m e n t a t i o n w a s t o start. W i t h the b r e a k i n g o u t o f W o r l d W a r I, F r i e n d s ' alw a y s real concern f o r p e a c e flared up into n e e d f o r m o r e action. It w a s f e l t t h a t p e a c e s h o u l d be m a d e t h e s u b j e c t of w o r k f o r a separate g r o u p . D i v i d i n g f r o m the Philanthropic, the E m e r g e n c y P e a c e C o m m i t t e e w a s set u p in 1 9 1 6 w i t h an a p p r o p r i a t i o n o f $ 1 5 0 0 a n d a d e e p c o n c e r n to s p r e a d sentiment in f a v o r o f r e d u c i n g if p o s s i b l e t h e a l r e a d y g r e a t conflict and p r e v e n t i n g its f u r t h e r e x t e n s i o n . I t b e g a n a busy p r o g r a m o f o p e n - a i r m e e t i n g s , a u t o m o b i l e s p e a k i n g tours, c o n f e r e n c e s , l a r g e public m e e t i n g s h e l d with the cooperation of A r c h Street Friends, and similar plans. W h e n in 1 9 1 7 the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s S e r v i c e C o m m i t t e e w a s f o r m e d , n e a r the time t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s e n t e r e d the w a r , the R a c e S t r e e t C o m m i t t e e c o o p e r a t e d h e a r t i l y w i t h the o v e r - a l l F r i e n d s ' e f f o r t a n d c h a n g e d

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its name to Committee on Peace and E m e r g e n c y Service. B y 1 9 1 9 a p a r a g r a p h in the report to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g m a d e this f r u i t f u l statement: W e h a v e held two sessions in conjunction with A r c h S t r e e t F r i e n d s and h a v e worked and taken counsel with t h e m w h e r e v e r possible. T h e y are better organized than ourselves and h a v e carried their w o r k f a r t h e r and more efficiently; but t h e y h a v e shown a cordial willingness to help us with their experience and to use e v e r y possibleo p p o r t u n i t y to join with us for common ends. W e are glad to include in this public report the expression of our appreciation of their fellowship.

T h u s begun, the cooperation progressively ripened until in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 9 3 3 a unification of the peace w o r k of the two Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s was proposed, and the t w o committees m e r g e d as the Peace Committee of Philadelphia and Vicinity, with an office at 3 0 4 A r c h Street, R i c h a r d R . W o o d as executive secretary, and two cochairmen, one f r o m each Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . A m o n g those who took prominent part in this whole development was the first chairman of the E m e r g e n c y Peace C o m m i t t e e , J e s s e H . H o l m e s . P r o f e s s o r of philosophy and religion at S w a r t h m o r e College, he animated many of the concerns of the Philanthropic Committee, helped f o r m the A m e r i c a n Friends Service Committee, and w a s f o r y e a r s a member of its Peace Section. A valiant crusader f o r a number of causes, he unhesitatingly attacked the self-satisfied and the unthinking, and just as unreservedly accepted " t h e leadership of that Inner L i g h t that would not let him be content or passive in a w o r l d torn by hatreds and b i g o t r y . " * R e g a r d e d as a prophet by some and as a firebrand by others, or both by the same person at diff e r e n t times, he in turn offended or inspired by his zealous, * William W. Price, " J e s s e H. Holmes," in Quaker Torchbearers (Philadelphia, 1943), p. 20.

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unguarded speech. H e used a characteristic title for one of his addresses, "Religion, a Spur or a C u s h i o n ? " T h e r e was no doubt which it was to him. Friends' w o r k f o r peace in the last half-century was appreciably advanced by the notable contribution of W i l l i a m I. and H a n n a h Clothier H u l l , both untiring in the w o r k of the Peace Committee. W i l l i a m H u l l , professor of history and international relations at Swarthmore College, w a s an eminent writer of Q u a k e r history, an uncompromising pacifist, and an early advocate of total, universal disarmament. H e was sent by the American Friends Service Committee to Paris as observer and consultant while the Covenant of the L e a g u e of N a t i o n s was being d r a f t e d . T h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g asked him to attend both the W a s h ington Disarmament Conference in 1922, and the G e n e v a General Disarmament Conference of 1932.* H a n n a h C . H u l l w o r k e d prominently in the W o m e n ' s International L e a g u e f o r Peace and Freedom, side by side f o r many years with Lucy Biddle L e w i s . A l t h o u g h peace was the most active interest of these Friends, they were deeply concerned in all the affairs of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , the General Conference, and the American Friends Service Committee, of which H a n n a h was f o r a number of years a vice-chairman. W h i l e the formation of a joint Peace Committee w a s slowly maturing, a similar development was taking place in the section of the Philanthropic Committee which had been supporting the southern schools. U n d e r the stimulation of A n n e Biddle Stirling, Friends in this group f o r m e d an independent committee. In 1921 they asked the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g to set them off as the Committee on Interests of the Colored Race. T h e y also absorbed such w o r k f o r * Richmond P. Miller, "William I. Hull," in Quaker Torchbcarers (Philadelphia,

1943), pp. 21 ff.

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Indians as was then being done, until that became independent again in a joint committee with A r c h Street. Dev e l o p i n g a g r o w i n g fellowship between themselves and a similar A r c h Street group, by 1 9 3 0 the two groups had become a single Committee on R a c e Relations reporting to both Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s , with cooperating chairmen, one f r o m each side. In 1 9 1 2 , when J a n e R u s h m o r e came to the Philanthropic Committee, it also had sections on prison r e f o r m , industrial conditions, and equal rights f o r women, a subject on which Q u a k e r women naturally f e l t strongly because of the Society's traditional respect f o r the equivalent abilities of both sexes. W o r k f o r prisons and prisoners had a phase of greatly increased activity when A n n a W h a r t o n M o r r i s and L o u i s N . Robinson were able to give it a g o o d deal of time. W h e n these two leaders had to w i t h d r a w , the w o r k was largely suspended f o r a number of years until its recent revival under L e o n T . Stern. T h e section on equal rights f o r women came to an end with the granting of national suffrage to women. A s a member of the Philanthropic Committee until 1 9 2 4 , J a n e saw all these developments and welcomed them. A l t h o u g h she was no longer on the Committee when its f u r t h e r later detachments occurred, her position in the Central B u r e a u kept her f a m i l i a r with its actions. T h e temperance section with v e r y small funds h a d f o r y e a r s been able to do little but print l e a f l e t s — o f t e n v e r y g o o d o n e s — b u y a f e w books, give some lectures, suggest some recommended study. In 1 9 3 2 it also l e f t the sheltering umbrella of the Philanthropic Committee, joined with A r c h Street F r i e n d s , and with an enlarged budget took on a more productive aspect. T h e remainder of the old Committee's subgroups re-

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considered their position. T h e cycle was almost complete f r o m independent w o r k of the several interests to a m a l g a mation and back to independence. It was clear that a new pattern was in order f o r those sections which had not already f o r m e d one. Since 1 9 3 0 the idea of more modern social w o r k had been g r o w i n g . B y 1 9 3 6 the Philanthropic Committee was ready to propose to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g a change in its name to Social Service, a reorganization, and the addition to the C e n t r a l B u r e a u staff of a secretary f o r its activity. T h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g approved, and M a r y H o b s o n J o n e s came to the office in that summer. F o r the three and a half y e a r s she w a s with the Committee she visited widely among the M e e t i n g s , conducting study and discussion periods, directing community surveys, a r r a n g ing visits to various institutions, and initiating a l a r g e October conference on social w o r k . U n d e r her and later under Richmond P . M i l l e r this conference has been a successful annual event, bringing together two hundred o r more persons: w o r k e r s in social agencies of the w h o l e Philadelphia area with appointed representatives of the M o n t h l y M e e t i n g s . Richmond M i l l e r since 1 9 4 0 has given special attention to the interests of the Social S e r v ice Committee, though the main p a r t of his time is dev o t e d to field w o r k f o r the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e . In 1 9 3 7 the Social Service Committee appointed some of its members to serve with the Social O r d e r Committee of A r c h Street f o r the study of certain economic problems. F r o m this w o r k there developed a joint g r o u p which by 1 9 4 7 became completely m e r g e d under the A r c h Street name of the Social O r d e r Committee and with the usual arrangement of t w o chairmen. T h e field of this united Committee has been w o r k camps and neighborhood improvement projects f o r young people under D a v i d S.

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Richie as secretary, along with conferences on industrial and economic questions. Remaining within the jurisdiction of R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g alone is the original Social Service Committee, dealing with, in 1 9 5 1 , p e n o l o g y , problems of aging Friends, displaced persons w h o have a r r i v e d in Philadelphia, and the annual conference of social workers. Besides the continuous service o v e r m a n y y e a r s that J a n e R u s h m o r e g a v e to religious education and to philanthropic interests, there is a long list of her shorter terms in other fields. In 1 9 0 9 the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g h a d inaugur a t e d a plan of a G e n e r a l N o m i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e and of f o u r - y e a r terms of appointment in most committees. W i t h the increasing business of the annual sessions it was a g r e a t saving of time to deflect this important but slow operation f r o m the M e e t i n g itself. A s soon as J a n e started w o r k in the Bureau it w a s obvious that her widening k n o w l e d g e of the constituency made her so valuable that she w a s put on the N o m i n a t i n g Committee almost undeviatingly every other term (members of this committee cannot succeed themselves at o n c e ) . T h e r e were several occasions when minor or m a j o r revisions of the Discipline were made. J a n e served on the committees appointed f o r the purpose. In the general revision of 1 9 2 7 , she wrote the section on the Scriptures and w o r k e d on business procedures. In 1 9 2 4 she began a long succession of terms on the B u d g e t C o m m i t t e e , which w a s instituted to replace the somewhat hit or miss, and thereby disproportioned, appropriations made f r o m the floor during Y e a r l y M e e t i n g sessions. In this position J a n e held an important post as the f u n d s at the YearlyM e e t i n g ' s disposition expanded. W h e n the B u d g e t Committee was changed into the Finance C o m m i t t e e in 1 9 3 6 ,

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Jane stayed with it f o r ten years longer. Parallel with all these services must be remembered her twenty-five or more years on the Central Committee of the General Conference. N o sooner was she released f r o m the Philanthropic Committee in 1924 than she immediately moved to the Committee on Education and the Disposition of the Income of the Samuel Jeanes Fund. H e r e again she was in the area of one of her own primary interests. A s f a r back as when Jane was teaching at L o n d o n G r o v e , the Committee on Education and Schools was disturbed over the state of the elementary schools scattered throughout the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . T h e proposal was m a d e that an outsider be asked to visit them and give suggestions. Because the L o n d o n G r o v e School was g r o w i n g larger by reason of excellent pedagogical methods, its principal w a s chosen to undertake the survey, and because L o n d o n G r o v e closed a month earlier than many other schools, Jane had the time f o r visiting. She made an exhaustive report, with no reservations, which w a s helpful in directing the thinking of the Committee. F o l l o w i n g her survey Ellen H . E . Price was appointed a full-time advisory officer, a position she held f o r several years. M e a n w h i l e in 1895 an extraordinary occurrence had begun to benefit the Friends' schools. A modest Q u a k e r family in Philadelphia named Jeanes that had accumulated a g o o d deal o f money found itself g r o w i n g old without descendants. T w o brothers and two sisters, all unmarried, made each other their heirs. D u r i n g the early nineties three of them died, their several estates concentrating in the hands of the one remaining sister, A n n a T . Jeanes. Obviously some serious decisions must be made by this no longer y o u n g woman. She did not consult anyone so

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f a r as is known, but she g a v e c a r e f u l thought to practical uses f o r the money. T h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 8 9 5 had reconvened a f t e r one of its noon recesses. Someone later recalled that a colored m a n h a d previously slipped in and gone out again. C h a r l e s J e n k i n s later wrote to J a n e R u s h m o r e , A t the business session of M e n ' s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g on F i f t h M o n t h 13th, 1895, when the meeting gathered in the afternoon an envelope, addressed to the meeting, w a s found on the clerk's desk. . . . T h e clerk [ E m m o r R o b e r t s ] opened it and announced there w a s a comm u n i c a t i o n addressed to the meeting which should be read at this t i m e . It w a s from Anna T . J e a n e s with a check enclosed for #200,000 " d o n a t e d from the e s t a t e of S a m u e l J e a n e s " to be applied to educ a t i o n a l purposes.

T h i s w a s the first of the benefactions of A n n a J e a n e s given into the care of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , which, together with her bequests by will, ultimately reached nearly $ 3 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 . I well r e m e m b e r [Charles J e n k i n s continues] the sensation in t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g when t h e clerk produced the first letter and m a d e the a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t 3200,000 had been given to t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . One other donation from her came in t h e s a m e s p e c t a c u l a r w a y , but I cannot recall how t h e others w e r e presented to t h e m e e t i n g . W e got to expecting one e v e r y y e a r , and were a little d i s a p p o i n t e d if one did not turn up.

T h e story of one of the other funds J a n e h e a r d f r o m E d m u n d W e b s t e r , treasurer of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . Soon a f t e r the first g i f t was made, the Committee on E d u c a t i o n had used some of the income as a loan to students. W h e n A n n a J e a n e s learned of this she betook herself at once to the treasurer. " T h a t is not w h a t B r o t h e r Samuel would have a p p r o v e d , " she protested emphatically. " T h e money must be returned to the f u n d . " E d m u n d W e b s t e r regretted very much that the C o m m i t t e e h a d e r r e d . N o more money w o u l d be used in this w a y and

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what had been loaned would be replaced. It would mean that such and such students at such and such schools would have their education stopped, he continued, giving details. Anna Jeanes took out her checkbook and pen. " T h i s is Sister M a r y ' s money. I do not think she would object to loaning money to young people who need help." She handed him a check f o r $30,000, which became the M a r y Jeanes Fund, used as a loan fund f o r student aid.* L a t e r the Committee on Education (it had adopted the long descriptive title in 1897 a f t e r the first Jeanes g i f t , but shortened it in 1 9 2 5 ) had a legacy f r o m Anne P. Townsend to provide outright gifts to students who wished to be fitted f o r making a living outside of teaching. T h e distribution of the income of these gifts was an important part of the Committee's work. Its other major task was its advisory care over the Friends' schools in the Y e a r l y Meeting, exclusive of George School which was governed by its own Y e a r l y Meeting committee. In the eighteenth century almost as soon as a meeting house was built, a schoolhouse was erected beside it. A t one time there were, according to H o w a r d Brinton,f at least sixty Friends' schools in Pennsylvania within fifty miles of Philadelphia, and perhaps thirty in N e w Jersey. A s the public education system increased the number of schools and the money available to them, Quaker schools decreased, until in 1 9 1 1 there were only twenty-three in R a c e Street Y e a r l y Meeting. Y e t the concern f o r a rightly guided education persisted strongly among Friends. T h e Education Committee with the assistance of the Samuel J e a n e s Fund began improving the quality of schools that * See account by Jane P. Rushmore, "Anna T. Jeanes," in Quaker Torchbearers (Philadelphia, 1943), pp. 164 ff. t Friend, Sixth month 28, 1951, p. 405.

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w e r e lagging behind rising standards. A s secretary of the Committee (the w o r d supervisor w a s not used because the position carried no a u t h o r i t y ) , I d a P a l m e r Stabler, a trained normal-school instructor, visited and advised with the schools f o r a number of years. In 1 9 2 4 E m m a B . W a l l a c e became the officer of the E d u c a t i o n Committee, and f o r twenty-six years t h e r e a f t e r she was devoted and untiring in her care and encouragement of the schools. D u r i n g that period a f e w more of them closed, as Friends l e f t their neighborhood or f o r other reasons. On the other hand, in recent y e a r s some new ones h a v e been started, old ones reopened, enrollments have increased, and additions to buildings have been made. One of E m m a W a l l a c e ' s persistent ambitions w a s to see a united Q u a k e r educational effort. In this field there w a s no conflict between the principles of the t w o branches of F r i e n d s ; the schools were conducted in the same way f o r the same purposes. A beginning w a s made through social contacts of the principals of high schools. L a t e r the principals of the elementary schools o r g a n i z e d . T h e t w o Y e a r l y M e e t i n g committees f o r several y e a r s occasionally c o n f e r r e d . T h e secretaries started visiting the schools together. A t last in 1 9 4 9 a single committee w a s inaugurated, whose members are appointed by the two Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . One treasurer manages all the f u n d s which are jointly used. T h e twenty-two schools now under the able direction of Isabel F . R a n d o l p h with their 4 6 6 5 students are the most conspicuous expression of united Philadelphia Quakerism. J a n e R u s h m o r e took a f a r more direct p a r t in this development than being merely an interested member of the E d u c a t i o n Committee. Such indeed she w a s , a l w a y s mak142

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ing valuable and progressive contributions to discussion. But in addition to that, her concern with the philosophy, attitudes, and sense of direction of local committees and teachers was expressed, as has been stated earlier, through her constant writing in the Courier, a four-page quarterly, which f r o m its beginning in 1937 through June 1952 she w r o t e entirely by herself. In this leaflet she reiterated w h a t the basis of a Friends' school should be and why it was a religious concern. N o doubt her years at L o n d o n G r o v e and Kennett Square did much to sharpen and c l a r i f y her o w n conception of the function of Q u a k e r schools in a w o r l d where public schools are constantly improving. T h e r e are still those w h o argue that private schools are only f o r snobs or incompetents. " A genuine Friends' s c h o o l , " Jane wrote, "is an important factor in carrying f o r w a r d into the coming generation of citizens the ideals o f life which we cherish. . . . W e are trying to develop future men and women whose w a y o f life will uphold our principles o f sincerity and simplicity and d e m o c r a c y . " * B u t the public schools teach democracy better, say the doubters, because so many different kinds of children meet there. T h e Friends' schools admit this g r e a t variety of background as a real value. T o take its place they try to supply concerned teachers, who, working experimentally with small classes, can carry the idea even further, to the acceptance o f responsibility which is inherent in a country which values its freedom. Jane wrote " P e r h a p s the most important function of a truly liberal education is to stimulate genuine thinking about important human relations h i p s . " t L a t e r she said : * Courier, September 1950. t Ibid., M a y 1937.

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S o m e m e m b e r s of t h e h u m a n f a m i l y a r e i n c o m p e t e n t , e v i l - m i n d e d a n d ill-disposed, b u t t h e line of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m and t h e c o m p e t e n t , h o n o r a b l e a n d diligent m e m b e r s of society is n e i t h e r t h e color line nor a b a r r i e r of w e a l t h a n d social position. A n effort t o u n d e r s t a n d people, t o k n o w w h y t h e y are as t h e y are, a n d a concern t o c h a n g e t h e m for t h e b e t t e r , are f u n d a m e n t a l bases t o h e l p f u l h u m a n relationships.*

A new and i m p o r t a n t a t t e m p t to interpret Q u a k e r education in just this way had been begun with the opening of G e o r g e School. A n t e d a t i n g any of the J e a n e s gifts h a d been the decision of J o h n M . G e o r g e to leave the bulk of his estate to Philadelphia Yearly M e e t i n g f o r the building and endowing of a boarding school f o r boys and girls. W h e n the bequest of some $700,000 arrived, the Yearly M e e t i n g at once, in 1888, set up a committee of sixty-eight Friends to select a site and study the possible scope and character of the f u t u r e school. D e b o r a h Stubbs, in whose home J a n e was then living, was appointed to the original committee, serving on it about ten years. W h i l e the interest of all Friends was greatly a t t r a c t e d by this m a j o r undertaking of the Yearly Meeting, J a n e R u s h m o r e was especially concerned as she and the Stubbs family talked over the project in L o n d o n G r o v e on D e b o r a h ' s r e t u r n f r o m her long meetings. J a n e was never put on this Committee, but f r o m the start she knew a number who were i m p o r t a n t members, such as R o b e r t L. Pyle, A l f r e d D . Sharpies of W e s t Chester, and W i l l i a m W a d e Griscom of W o o d b u r y , N . J., the first clerk. N o t until 1892 was the location near N e w t o w n , Pa., finally purchased. T h e M a i n Building opened f o r its first academic year in the fall of 1893. O n August 18 of t h a t year a great picnic h a d been held on the grounds to afford a view of the partly finished build* Ibid., December 1947.

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ing and the campus. A beautiful day encouraged attendance; Friends arrived by train, carriages, wagons, and stagecoaches. They swarmed among the plasterers, bricklayers, carpenters, and steam fitters; they climbed to the roof to enjoy the long vista of rolling country. By afternoon when the program of speeches began, the crowd was estimated to number between two thousand and twentyfive hundred. M a n y noted the especially fine address given by Joseph S. Walton. When the school opened George L . M a r i s , the principal, the small faculty, two of whom were Jesse H . Holmes and George H . Nutt, and the first 1 3 0 boarding students had all the standards, policies, and traditions to set. It was a big adventure. T h e school and the committee learned together the business of conducting a boarding school f o r the Y e a r l y Meeting. A f t e r eight years George M a r i s resigned. T h e George School Committee recalled the good speech of Joseph Walton at the picnic. H e had continued f o r a time as superintendent of the Chester County schools, resigned to become instructor in history f o r two years at West Chester State N o r m a l School, and in 1898 had been made principal of Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. T h e Committee appointed Joseph S. Walton to the George School principalship. W i t h him came, in that autumn of 1 9 0 1 , his sister, Deborah F . Stubbs. D r . Stubbs had died; his widow needed further resources f o r the education of her children. She resigned from the Committee and accepted appointment to the position of " m a t r o n . " A l l of her successors have been called " d e a n , " but even that title scarcely describes the place Deborah Stubbs occupied. She was in fact, as the history of the school relates,* actually * History 0} George School, 1893-1943. Association, 1943.

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a coprincipal, giving the greatest encouragement and support to her brother, sharing with him all considerations of important policy and practice. She continued at the school f o r several years a f t e r his untimely death in 1 9 1 2 , maintaining her g r e a t influence on the students by her humor, sympathy, and religious power, and again helping with a firm hand the new principal, her nephew G e o r g e A . W a l t o n , son of his predecessor. F o r the thirty-six years of his principalship, J a n e R u s h m o r e watched the p r o g r e s s of the school almost as closely as in the early days of experiment by his f a t h e r and D e b o r a h Stubbs. G e o r g e W a l t o n ' s o r g a n i z i n g ability, his g i f t as a speaker, and his success as a teacher stimulated the growth of the student body and the constant increase of plant and facilities. U n d e r him also the original conception of the Friendly character of the school was continued and strengthened. Students attended meeting f o r worship at N e w t o w n or at school. In the first y e a r s religious instruction was given in N e w t o w n First-day School and courses in the Bible w e r e part of the r e g u l a r curriculum. A s early as 1 9 0 6 classes in religious education were taught by E l e a n o r W o o d ( W h i t m a n ) and later, in 1 9 0 8 , by G e o r g e W a l t o n . U l t i m a t e l y the course was enlarged until it was placed under a full-time director of religious interests. T h e devotion to Q u a k e r ideals of the faculty, whether members of the Society of Friends or not ( a number have become Friends through their association with the s c h o o l ) , has well satisfied the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g that the young people are being trained in a w a y that puts conscience and the needs of humanity first. P e r h a p s the philosophy of Q u a k e r education is as succinctly stated as can be f o u n d anywhere in a comment of J a n e ' s in the Courier of J u n e 1 9 5 1 , when she s a y s : " W e 146

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think a man is e d u c a t e d not w h e n he is replete w i t h k n o w l edge o f many things, but w h e n he has the f u l l use of all his p o t e n t i a l possibilities and k n o w s h o w to put these p o w e r s into effective and altruistic a c t i o n . " E m p h a s i s on altruistic action, on the concern to c h a n g e p e o p l e f o r the b e t t e r , on a sense o f m o r a l values, is, F r i e n d s h o p e , a distinctive m a r k o f all their schools, n o t only the small circuit o f those u n d e r the E d u c a t i o n C o m m i t t e e but those within the o r b i t o f all the o t h e r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . I n d e e d , some t w e n t y y e a r s a g o a m o v e m e n t to unite the interests o f Q u a k e r schools e v e r y w h e r e in A m e r i c a w a s initiated by A r c h S t r e e t . J. H e n r y B a r t l e t t h a d been in E n g l a n d , w h e r e he b e c a m e interested in a council on education w h i c h F r i e n d s h a d established t h e r e . O n his r e t u r n he b e g a n w o r k i n g out a similar plan. A f t e r a b r i e f t r i a l o f it the F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e and F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g E d u c a t i o n B o a r d w e r e invited t o j o i n . T h i s in 1 9 3 2 b e c a m e the F r i e n d s C o u n c i l on E d u c a t i o n , in w h i c h N e w Y o r k and B a l t i m o r e ( G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e ) Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s as w e l l as P h i l a d e l p h i a j o i n e d , and also t h e E d u c a t i o n B o a r d o f the F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g . A l l o f these g r o u p s appoint a definite n u m b e r o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s ; the p r i n c i p a l s o f the h i g h schools, and m o r e recently the principals o f all F r i e n d s ' schools, b e l o n g to it, plus the e x e c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y o f the P h i l a d e l p h i a C o m m i t t e e on E d u c a t i o n . I t has an office a t 20 S o u t h T w e l f t h S t r e e t and an office s e c r e t a r y , but a t p r e s e n t no executive direct o r . I t s purpose is to u n i f y so f a r as is beneficial a l l F r i e n d s ' education in A m e r i c a t h r o u g h c o n f e r r i n g tog e t h e r and w o r k i n g t o w a r d the same aims a n d p u r p o s e s . C o m p l e t e unity h a s n o t been a c h i e v e d , b u t i n c r e a s i n g acq u a i n t a n c e and c o o p e r a t i o n h a v e been v e r y u s e f u l . J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s an a c t i v e m e m b e r o f the C o u n c i l , r e p r e senting R a c e Street, f r o m its b e g i n n i n g until the e a r l y fifties. Since then she h a s been an h o n o r a r y m e m b e r . 147

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O f the r a n g e of w o r k c a r r i e d on t h r o u g h o u t P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g t h e r e h a s been little indeed w i t h w h i c h J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s not i n t i m a t e l y a c q u a i n t e d . S h e s p e n t thirty-one y e a r s as a m e m b e r of the F i r s t - d a y S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e h e l p i n g to r a i s e s t a n d a r d s in r e l i g i o u s educat i o n . H e r b r i e f e r p a r t in the P h i l a n t h r o p i c C o m m i t t e e s a w it b e g i n m o r e v i t a l a n d e n e r g e t i c a c c o m p l i s h m e n t as one interest a f t e r a n o t h e r s e p a r a t e d out to b e c o m e i n d e p e n d e n t a n d then f o u n d h e l p f u l c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h A r c h S t r e e t F r i e n d s . H e r l i f e - l o n g d e v o t i o n to education f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n in the Q u a k e r c o m m i t t e e f r o m 1 9 2 4 to the p r e s e n t time. W i t h the a d d i t i o n a l time she g a v e to b u d g e t s , t o n o m i n a t i n g c o m m i t t e e s , to m a n y c o m p a r a t i v e l y s h o r t t e r m a s s i g n m e n t s , a n d to Q u a r t e r l y a n d M o n t h l y M e e t i n g a f f a i r s , she p e r s o n a l l y c o v e r e d a l a r g e section of Q u a k e r a c t i v i t y , a n d h e r k n o w l e d g e e m b r a c e d n e a r l y the w h o l e g a m u t . E v e n w h e n she g a v e up a c t u a l m e m b e r s h i p on c o m m i t t e e s , o r even w i t h those she did n o t s e r v e , h e r cent r a l p o s i t i o n at the B u r e a u a n d h e r w i d e a c q u a i n t a n c e k e p t h e r up to d a t e on c u r r e n t p r o g r e s s . She b e c a m e a c o m p e n d i u m of k n o w l e d g e on Q u a k e r business, u n f a i l i n g l y a v a i l a b l e to a n y w h o n e e d e d to consult her. S h e w a s u n t i r i n g l y w i l l i n g to contribute h e r time a n d s t r e n g t h to a n y p r o j e c t o r on any e r r a n d the M e e t i n g s a s k e d . I t m i g h t be in the line of h e r r e g u l a r duties at the B u r e a u , o r f o r w h a t e v e r c o m m i t t e e she w a s on, o r e n t i r e l y o u t s i d e of e i t h e r . N o call f o u n d her u n r e a d y . E v e r y day a p p e a r e d to be g i v e n p r a c t i c a l l y in its e n t i r e t y to the S o c i e t y of F r i e n d s , its s e c u l a r a n d r e l i g i o u s interests, which to h e r m i n d w e r e the s a m e . Y e t all w a s done as a m a t t e r of c o u r s e — a quite n o r m a l o f f e r i n g , w h i c h , as P a u l s a i d l o n g a g o to a little church in R o m e , is y o u r r e a s o n a b l e s e r v i c e . N o r is the tale of it y e t c o m p l e t e . 148

CHAPTER IX

From the Clerk's Table A s the Society of Friends is organized, its central authority is vested in the Y e a r l y Meeting. Between this body and the Monthly Meeting, the local unit in which individual memberships reside, stands the Quarterly Meeting gathering together Monthly Meetings of a convenient geographical area, sitting once every three months, or quarter, reporting directly to the Y e a r l y Meeting on behalf of its component groups, but having few functions of initiation. T h e Y e a r l y Meeting is thus the apex of the system of subordinate bodies. T o a very real degree it is both a centripetal and a centrifugal force, receiving and dispensing the social and spiritual powers of its members as Friends are sent f r o m local Meetings to pour their energy into the work of the Y e a r l y Meeting committees, and as that Meeting in turn offers its services in many f o r m s to its local groups, or takes its place in still larger units such as Friends General Conference. F o r generations Friends have felt attendance at the annual sessions a serious duty. Members used to gather f r o m long distances. T h e y arranged to leave their homes and usually stayed with local families f o r the duration of " Y e a r l y Meeting W e e k . " T h e y expected to attend every session. T h e meeting was an august and dignified body where each Friend might be heard. Its decisions were not arrived at until any who disagreed with the proposal were either convinced or willing not to press their side further in view of the feelings of others. If such agreement was not achieved, the matter was not acted on at all, but "laid o v e r " until Friends were "in unity." T h e men and women 149

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sat separately, as they had f r o m the beginning. In the seventeenth century this custom had been a signal recognition of the equal status of women. B y the end of the nineteenth it w a s beginning to be recognized as unnecessarily cumbersome. W h e n J a n e R u s h m o r e became a resident of Pennsylvania in 1 8 8 4 , the rule f o r holding Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w a s that the business sessions should begin on the " f i r s t Second-day f o l l o w i n g the second F i r s t - d a y in the F i f t h m o n t h . " T h e y usually adjourned the a f t e r n o o n of the f o l l o w i n g Sixth-day ( F r i d a y ) . J a n e at first did not attend Y e a r l y M e e t i n g since L o n d o n G r o v e School closed b e f o r e this time and there w a s no reason f o r her not going straight home at the end of the school term. S e v e r a l y e a r s l a t e r when she did stay, the clerk of the W o m e n ' s M e e t i n g w a s M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n , that F r i e n d w h o m she h a d known f o r m a n y summers at P o t t e r H o l l o w and w h o had recommended her f o r the position at L o n d o n G r o v e . J a n e gives the f o l l o w i n g account of her impressions: When I first r e m e m b e r Philadelphia Yearly Meeting before 1890 M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n and M a t i l d a Garrigues sat at t h e table. Both were notably impressive persons. M a r g a r e t t a , clad in t h e costume which Friends traditionally wore b u t which was disappearing, was a h a n d s o m e w o m a n whose highly spiritual quality seemed to extend over t h e whole meeting. I often marveled t h a t this could be t h e same warmly h u m a n person t h a t I knew, who loved bright colors, was keenly interested in t h e welfare of people, and understood a humorous situation. M a t i l d a , the assistant clerk, was a m e m o rable reader. E v e r y t h i n g was deeply serious. T h e business was of a routine character, interspersed with vocal messages from concerned Friends. T h e minutes were never outlined in advance. E v e r y sentence was written from t h e beginning during the sessions by the clerk, who was, as always, b o t h chairman and secretary, and t h e pauses t h u s necessitated were opportunities for extended preaching. Worldly

150

FROM T H E CLERK'S T A B L E matters like finance must be barely touched upon, the only allusion to them being approval of necessary expenses. Everything was slow, new subjects were rarely introduced. All epistles received from other Y e a r l y Meetings were read in their entirety. Formal, often uninforming, replies to all the Queries were read and summarized. I t all impressed me, but I thought it dull and not headed anywhere: What could be done with a summary of summaries from Quarterly Meetings? A Committee on Exercises was always appointed to gather and record the substance of the vocal ministry or discussion during the week. I t was astonishing how much better the committee's report sounded than the original speaking.

Sarah Griscom succeeded M a r g a r e t t a W a l t o n as clerk in 1 8 9 3 . A small woman, wearing a modified "plain dress," she held the meeting in firm control, permitting no laughter to mar the austere dignity of the sessions. She was a despot, J a n e says, but no one knew it, f o r she was just and able. F o r twenty-nine years she carried the rather heavy responsibilities of the clerkship, at first with M a t i l d a Garrigues beside her as assistant. A l l three of the presiders had a little hidden fun at their table, in spite of outward solemnity. Once when M a t i l d a Garrigues asked M a r g a r e t t a Walton why the next piece of business was not taken up, the clerk whispered back, " I f thee'll just wait a minute, I think I ' m going to preach." P a r t of the assistant's work was to integrate the exercises into the minutes, which were read aloud the following morning. She did this by making symbols to indicate references to inserted pages. But M a t i l d a did not use letters or numbers or asterisks. She made tiny drawings of leaves or other figures. M o r e than once Sarah Griscom's lips twitched as she followed directions via a pig with a curly tail or a dog with a cocked ear. A f t e r the retirement of Matilda Garrigues, Sarah Griscom had a succession of assistants, a new one almost every 151

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year. A s the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ' s business increased and home duties became more demanding, S a r a h Griscom felt that she needed assistance f r o m someone who knew the M e e t ing's concerns. In f a c t she wanted J a n e R u s h m o r e , who had now been at the C e n t r a l Bureau f o r seven years. W h e n the official representatives, w h o nominate the clerks, learned of S a r a h G r i s c o m ' s desire, one of them, Caroline S. J a c k s o n , asked J a n e if she would be willing to serve. J a n e said, " W i l l the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g a p p r o v e of an assistant at the desk who is paid by the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g f o r w o r k in the B u r e a u ? " Caroline J a c k s o n replied, " I never thought of t h a t . " T h e n a f t e r a moment's pause, she added, " I think that does not matter. W e think of thee as a concerned F r i e n d , not as an e m p l o y e e . " T h e appointment was made and continued until S a r a h Griscom asked to retire f o u r years later, in 1 9 2 2 . T h e n J a n e R u s h m o r e became the clerk of the W o m e n ' s Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . In all J a n e conducted the business f r o m the clerk's table f o r more than five years. D u r i n g that time an outstanding change occurred. In 1 9 2 1 it had been proposed that men and women hold one of their sessions together. M a n y of the subordinate meetings had by now given up separate business meetings of men and women, and this crack in the tradition of 2 4 0 years, while ominous to some, to others seemed a hint of progress. One joint session was held. In 1 9 2 2 , J a n e ' s first y e a r as clerk, joint sessions were held on two days, and the next y e a r on three. T h e n in 1 9 2 4 , with three successful experiments behind them, Friends were p r e p a r e d to take the momentous step of permanent joint sessions. M e n and women were convened separately on Second-day morning f o r each g r o u p to take the proper action of f o r m a l l y adjourning into a single body, and then reconvening into the 152

FROM T H E C L E R K ' S T A B L E

united group. Philadelphia was f a r behind the other General Conference Yearly Meetings in this move. N e w Y o r k had met jointly f o r twenty-five years or more, and the others f a r longer. T h e most startling aspect of the metamorphosis in Philadelphia was in the selection of the first clerk f o r the combined Meeting. T h e delegates proposed a woman. A s scarcely needs to be said that woman was J a n e P. Rushmore. She herself was greatly surprised. A f t e r two years J a n e was succeeded as clerk by George A . Walton, then principal of George School. When he was absent on a trip to England in 1 9 2 9 , she was again called to serve f o r the year, and she also filled in f o r the remaining sessions of 1 9 3 2 after George Walton became ill on the opening day. J a n e Rushmore therefore served f o r two years as clerk of the Women's Meeting, three years f o r the combined Y e a r l y Meeting, and several additional days. A l l of the clerks since that time have been men. J a n e recalls a f e w of the prominent figures of thirty years ago. A t the time that I assumed the clerkship, among the women Friends most frequently taking part in the business w a s Sarah B . F l i t c r a f t of Chester, tall and fine looking. She spoke clearly with a firm belief that conservatism was synonymous with Quakerism. M a r y R . Livezey, of Norristown, generally advanced the same point of view, though she w a s a little more open to considering presentd a y interests. Caroline S. Jackson carried a large measure of responsible service, a woman with convictions and the courage to stand b y them. A m o n g those representing a desire for a more forward-looking Society was Elizabeth L l o y d . She was always urging speakers to come to the front of the meeting so they could be heard. She once said, " T h e r e are only about thirty of us who ever contribute a n y thing vocally to the Y e a r l y Meeting, and the front seats will accommodate them all." I had considerable amusement over trying to find out who the thirty persons were who conducted the business of the Y e a r l y Meeting.

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L u c y Biddle L e w i s was then at the peak o f her g r e a t abilities. She was very stirring [continues J a n e ] , spoke often, always as an a d v o c a t e of progress. She was thought to be very radical, but she was considerate of the views of others. T h e r e was quite a time over t h e proposal to have the clerks named by the General N o m i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e instead of b y the representatives to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . E i g h t i m p o r t a n t Friends in t h e front gallery opposed the change; t h e b o d y of the meeting favored it. A f t e r I , as clerk, suggested postponing action for a year, saying t h a t the o b j e c t o r s had borne t h e concerns of the M e e t i n g for many years and t h a t it was Friends' way to wait for unity, L u c y Lewis, herself anxious for t h e change, at once said, " O f course, we'll wait a year and then discuss it a g a i n . " B y t h a t time all were ready for the new plan. L u c y Lewis was usually supported by her close friend, H a n n a h Clothier Hull, whose gentle m a n n e r persuasively urged Friends to use their opportunities to exert a wider influence. In t h e y o u t h s ' gallery* directly facing t h e clerk, I recall three sisters, always on hand, who rarely spoke in the sessions of Y e a r l y M e e t i n g but were powers in c o m m i t t e e work and in gathering up t h e proceedings, Anna C a n b y J a n n e y , L u c y S m y t h Cooper, and F r a n c e s C a n b y C h a m b e r s . In general the W o m e n ' s M e e t i n g had unity without uniformity. I t was more progressive t h a n t h e M e n ' s , and under much b e t t e r control. T h e philanthropic reports found the W o m e n ' s M e e t i n g more receptive, and new ideas were more likely to be approved.

A m o n g the men F r i e n d s w h o m J a n e knew best, she mentions especially A l f r e d M o o r e , a s t r o n g personality, clerk o f the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e f o r a long time, and first president o f the I n c o r p o r a t e d T r u s t e e s . H e did all the legal work without pay for t h e T r u s t e e s . He was not an obstructionist though he wished to see t h a t all proceedings were very regular. H e was upheld in this view by Harrison S t r e e t e r , also a power in the T r u s t e e s , though both were willing to move out * The old name for the second-floor balcony around the sides and back of the meeting house, as distinguished from the ministers' gallery raised a few steps above the main floor, facing the room. I54

FROM T H E CLERK'S T A B L E of t h e past to meet t h e needs of t h e present provided all c h a n g e s were m a d e in a regular m a n n e r . E d m u n d W e b s t e r , t r e a s u r e r of t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g for m a n y years, served on almost every c o m m i t t e e concerned with e d u c a t i o n . H e was a m e m b e r of t h e S w a r t h m o r e College Board, of t h e G e o r g e School C o m m i t t e e , of t h e F r i e n d s ' C e n t r a l School C o m m i t t e e , and of t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ' s C o m m i t t e e on E d u c a t i o n . H e generally said n o t h i n g if he t h o u g h t things were going right, b u t q u i e t l y p u t a stop t o m o v e m e n t s which he believed were u n s o u n d . William P. B a n c r o f t , of W i l m i n g t o n , long c h a i r m a n of t h e George School C o m m i t t e e , was v e r y q u i e t also b u t knew h o w t o g e t things done. H e originated t h e plan for t h e G e n e r a l N o m i n a t ing C o m m i t t e e , a d o p t e d in 1909. His wife, E m m a C. B a n c r o f t , w a s g r e a t l y interested in y o u n g people, helping m a n y t o a d v a n c e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n t h o u g h never letting t h e m k n o w where t h e help c a m e f r o m . B o t h were generous of their large resources in u n o s t e n t a t i o u s w a y s . W i l l i a m B a n c r o f t once had occasion t o meet a steerage p a s s e n g e r a r r i v i n g in N e w Y o r k . I t was necessary for someone t o v o u c h financially for such newcomers. " T h e inspector asked w h a t m y i n c o m e w a s . I told him as n e a r l y as I could. I do n o t t h i n k he believed m e . " T h e g o v e r n m e n t a g e n t d i d n o t k n o w the r i g o r o u s h o n e s t y o f this p l a i n l y d r e s s e d m a n .

H e made large benefac-

tions to W i l m i n g t o n F r i e n d s School, G e o r g e School, a n d S w a r t h m o r e C o l l e g e , besides innumerable donations w h i c h w e r e successfully concealed. I n 1 9 2 5 , d u r i n g J a n e ' s c l e r k s h i p , u n r e s t a b o u t the of Discipline

Book

c u l m i n a t e d in a p r o p o s a l t o r e w r i t e t h e b o o k ,

w h i c h h a d been a m e n d e d m a n y t i m e s . A l a r g e c o m m i t t e e o n r e v i s i o n w a s c h a r g e d a l s o w i t h c o n s u l t i n g the five

other

H i c k s i t e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s w i t h a v i e w to a d o p t i n g a

discipline

which

would

represent

all

Hicksite

Friends.

A f t e r t w o y e a r s o f diligent effort the committee m a d e a r e p o r t w h i c h w a s a p p r o v e d a t the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g .

Bal-

t i m o r e , G e n e s e e , I n d i a n a , a n d I l l i n o i s a d o p t e d the s a m e b o o k w i t h m i n o r c h a n g e s , since the ones t h e y w e r e u s i n g w e r e all r a t h e r o u t o f d a t e .

N e w Y o r k had, h o w e v e r , re-

155

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cently c a r r i e d t h r o u g h a satisfactory revision of its own and p r e f e r r e d to retain t h a t . A s accepted by Philadelphia, the new Discipline integ r a t e d the several C o m m i t t e e s on M i n i s t r y and Counsel ( t h e n a m e a d o p t e d a t this time in place of the f o r m e r M i n i s t e r s and E l d e r s ) m o r e closely into the g e n e r a l struct u r e . T h e way was thus p r e p a r e d f o r making, a f e w years l a t e r , t h e i r annual "Select M e e t i n g " on the day b e f o r e the c o m m e n c e m e n t of Y e a r l y M e e t i n g an open one. Still later the g a t h e r i n g became a r e g u l a r session of the Yearly M e e t i n g itself. F o r m a l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n of ministers was abolished. T h i s m o v e was vigorously opposed by some F r i e n d s , but actually the practice h a d been largely given up f o r the p a s t ten years. M a n y M e e t i n g s believed it und e m o c r a t i c to specify some m e m b e r s as a p p r o v e d ministers, while others, less g i f t e d p e r h a p s but equally valued, w e r e n o t so distinguished. T h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e w a s redistricted, p r o p o r t i o n i n g the n u m b e r of m e m b e r s to the size of the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g they r e p r e s e n t e d and a d d i n g sixteen persons chosen at large. T h i s a l t e r e d significantly the c h a r a c t e r of the C o m m i t t e e , m a k i n g it m o r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . T h e whole m a t t e r of the place occupied by the Book of Discipline in the Society of F r i e n d s is p o i n t e d up by the c o m p a r a t i v e ease with which these changes w e r e m a d e . A b o o k of discipline is n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e o u r t e s t i m o n i e s clear a n d t o i n s u r e t h e o r d e r l y t r a n s a c t i o n of business [ J a n e wrote]. T h e b o o k is n o t considered sacred, b u t is a serious exposition w i t h w h i c h m e m b e r s should b e in s u b s t a n t i a l a g r e e m e n t . T h e m e m b e r s h i p of a society w i t h o u t a creed m u s t hold c e r t a i n i m p o r t a n t t e s t i m o n i e s in c o m m o n . . . in o r d e r t o p r o v i d e t h e necess a r y c o h e r e n c e t o be called a d i s t i n c t i v e Religious S o c i e t y . Our a d h e r e n c e t o a c e n t r a l t r u t h expressed as " t h e I n n e r L i g h t , " o u r d e m o c r a c y of w o r s h i p a n d m i n i s t r y , m a r k us as d e c i d e d l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m o t h e r C h r i s t i a n sects, t h o u g h we hold m a n y essential C h r i s t i a n t e s t i m o n i e s in c o m m o n w i t h t h e m . . . . A society t h a t h o p e s t o

156

FROM THE CLERK'S TABLE maintain vigor and influence must rely upon the constant practical application of these testimonies in the lives of its members. A consistent opposition to war, intemperance, gambling, race prejudice and slavery of any kind is expected of every concerned Friend. We do not drop members who do not fully support the affirmations of the Discipline on all of these subjects, if they are in general s y m p a t h y with our profession and methods, but we hope always they will see the light and strengthen our testimonies. In r e g a r d to m a k i n g changes, J a n e continues, We have fortunately emerged from the period when we felt t h a t it was desecration to change the language and structure of the book in order to adapt it better to existing needs. . . . In general it is a sound principle that changes should not be made merely for the sake of change or experiment, but should never be delayed when it is clear t h a t revised or additional statements will help the life of the Society.* J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s , as w e h a v e seen, a member of the committee that carried through the general revision completed in 1 9 2 7 , though she w a s not clerk of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g when the new f o r m w a s adopted. D u r i n g the y e a r s that she presided changes h a d taken place. T h e v e r y serious mien of the g a t h e r i n g w a s lightened, f o r J a n e h a d a tendency to present matters in a w a y which w a s found amusing and she felt that the older restraint w a s unnecessary. She m a d e the business m o v e f a s t e r by h a v i n g a p a r t of the minutes written up ahead. She explains, I t is the duty of the clerk to lay the proposition clearly before the Meeting and be sure t h a t it is understood before any action is taken. T h e clerk knows what the business is beforehand. Since the statement of the case and the decision are all t h a t are put in the minutes, the proposal can be transcribed in advance. Then the Meeting expresses itself, the clerk gathers the weight of opinion and writes the decision into the minute which can be approved on the spot. * Jane P. Rushmore, Testimonies and Practice of the Society of Friends (Philadelphia, 1945), pp. 83, 84, 86. Ii?

UNDER QUAKER APPOINTMENT

T h e fear that the sessions would be unwieldy in size when the M e n ' s and W o m e n ' s M e e t i n g s were joined has not been realized. Recent decades find the attendance much smaller than in the earlier days which saw sometimes a thousand women in Race Street M e e t i n g H o u s e with possibly four hundred men in the Cherry Street end o f the building. But J a n e is not at all disheartened by the reduction in numbers. M a n y more women, as well as men, are in commercial or industrial life, unable to command their own time as could farmers of a f o r m e r day and housewives with servants. On the other hand, J a n e points out, the number of persons carrying committee responsibility has greatly multiplied, so that fully as many people, or more, take part in Y e a r l y M e e t i n g activities and the work is more important and more effective.

158

CHAPTER Χ

Under Weighty Appointment The Yearly Meeting sits for one week of the year. For the rest of the time the continuing body is not an executive board, but a much larger assembly. In London it holds the name given it in Quakerism's first decades of constant persecution, the "Meeting for Sufferings." Race Street calls it the Representative Committee. Originally it was composed of four representatives from each Quarterly and Half-Yearly Meeting, making it a group of forty-four, divided, but not always evenly, between men and women. In 1927 the new Discipline changed the proportions from the Quarters and enlarged the number. The status of this body is entirely different from that of the committees which carry out the specific testimonies and concerns of the Meeting such as religious education, peace, race relations, education, or George School. Since the Representative Committee is the Yearly Meeting when the latter is not in session, it has all the powers of the larger conclave except two, specifically withheld : namely, to change the Discipline and to impose taxes. Curiously, the Men's Meeting over a period of years saw no particular value in having its clerk a member of the Committee, so that he assumed his important duties for Yearly Meeting Week without knowing what had gone on in the interim body. The women, however, saw to it that their presiding officer was always on the Representative Committee though not in an ex-officio capacity. Jane Rushmore was appointed to it in 1 9 2 1 , the year before she assumed clerkship of the Women's Meeting, and she remained a member until 1948.

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W h e n she first knew anything of the Committee's functioning, it transacted very little business; it w a s a f r a i d of trespassing on the p r e r o g a t i v e s of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g and did only what it was instructed to carry out. It advised local M e e t i n g s on questions of property, acted on their requests f o r appropriations f r o m the Samuel J e a n e s F u n d to r e p a i r their meeting houses, took care of the records in the fireproof room, and a r r a n g e d the p r o g r a m f o r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . It had a subcommittee, not v e r y active, on " I n creasing Interest among Our M e m b e r s . " Its two sessions a y e a r , outside of the organization meeting, w e r e ample f o r the business that came b e f o r e it. I n the 1 9 2 0 ' s a change began taking place. J a n e ' s experience as Y e a r l y M e e t i n g clerk led her to propose that certain routine matters be taken o v e r by the Representative Committee and the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ' s time be used f o r m o r e valuable considerations. One matter t r a n s f e r r e d w a s the a p p r o v a l of names submitted by the G e n e r a l N o m i n a t ing Committee. A s the number of committees increased, the reading of the list of all appointees in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g f o r its sanction was time-consuming, uninteresting, and w a s gone through with as f a s t as possible. T h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee now gives c a r e f u l attention to each name and takes final action. On completing her f o u r t h successive y e a r as clerk of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in the spring of 1 9 2 6 , J a n e w a s asked to assume the same responsible position of clerkship f o r the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee in 1 9 2 7 . H e r e f o r nineteen y e a r s she was in the most strategic place she ever occupied. She says now that w h a t e v e r contribution she may h a v e o f f e r e d to the Society of Friends w a s made more l a r g e l y through this avenue than any other. H o w much the reactivating of the Representative Committee was due to her initiative and how much to her practical encourage-

160

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ment of the proposals of others cannot be determined. T h e interesting point is how greatly the functions of the Committee increased and developed in these two decades. T h e revision of the Discipline in 1 9 2 7 placed the Representative Committee in a position of leadership, and in J a n e Rushmore it had a leader ready to go forward. A n important beginning was made at once with the appointment of a subcommittee on field work to visit Meetings and make a closer connection between them and the Y e a r l y Meeting. T h e volunteer visitors were definitely not sent as a preaching mission. T h e y were indeed, at the start, chosen from among those who did not speak in meetings f o r worship. T h e y took their lunch with them, so as not to be a tax on local hospitality, and they conf e r r e d with the resident Friends about their problems. F o r instance, the difference in function between the Committee on Ministry and Counsel (to foster spiritual l i f e ) and the Overseers (to exercise pastoral care) was not always clearly understood. A n effort was made to point out the important distinction between the two. " A few small M e e t i n g s . " J a n e wrote, "appoint but one group and assign to it all the duties usually carried by the two. T h i s may be desirable when the membership is so small that all responsibilities must be carried by the same people. Its danger is that the development of interest in the practice of worship will be crowded out by the kind of material concerns which are easier to handle."* W h i l e in 1 9 2 6 four visits had been made to local Meetings, forty-five were made the next year, and more than eighty in 1 9 3 4 . Besides arranging these local visits, the field committee held f o r a number of years good field conferences, each embracing several Meetings, until at last it became clear that there was too much organization * Messetiger, Twelfth month, 1940.

161

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and so the conferences were dropped. T h i s subcommittee was soon the right arm of the Representative Committee. Richmond P. Miller became its secretary in 1940, dividing his time with the work of the Social Service Committee. T h e work of the subcommittee on printing and publication was greatly expanded. In 1928 J a n e proposed issuing a letter to the constituent local Meetings to keep the membership informed of Y e a r l y Meeting activities. Called the Messenger, it was written by Jane herself until 1949, when Richmond Miller took it over. This small, four-page sheet appearing six times a year carried brief discourses or epigrammatic paragraphs on Quaker testimonies, principles, and affairs, with comments on items of current interest. T h e topics were appropriate to the general membership rather than to those directly connected with religious or secular education as in the First-day School Bulletin and the Courier, both of which J a n e was concurrently writing. T h e purpose of the Messenger was not to be a news bulletin, or a column of "personals," but to keep clear the faith of Friends and the manner of its working out in practice. A s has been said, the publication of two books of readings, The Higher Life and Founding a Home, was authorized by the Representative Committee, as well as the annual printing of the Calendar and the less frequent issue of the Book of Meetings, although the Central Bureau took all the burden of compiling and editing them. A program of leaflets dealing with the basic principles of Friends was undertaken, one or two being published each year. When statements on the issues of the day are printed in the name of the Society, these must also have the approval of the Representative Committee and be published by it, no matter where initiated. 162

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O v e r s e e r s were o f t e n besought by young people f o r special information about m a r r i a g e s . I f two non-Friends w a n t e d to use F r i e n d s ' ceremony, would that be l e g a l ? C o u l d Friends use their f o r m of m a r r i a g e in states w h e r e there were no F r i e n d s ? Such questions led to the collecting, through the facilities of the C e n t r a l Bureau, of inf o r m a t i o n on m a r r i a g e laws in all the states where members of R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g live, a greatly appreciated service. D u r i n g W o r l d W a r I the question of F r i e n d s ' stand in opposition to all w a r and a statement in r e g a r d to it led to the inauguration of occasional joint conferences with the A r c h Street Representative M e e t i n g . Because of the difficulties created f o r Friends by W o r l d W a r I I , the R e p resentative Committee appointed an advisory committee to c o n f e r with men of d r a f t a g e ; it also devised plans to share in the financing of conscientious-objector camps through Civilian Public Service, a body set up by the A m e r ican F r i e n d s Service Committee in cooperation with the M e n n o n i t e s and Church of the Brethren. T h e Representative Committee takes care of all arrangements f o r Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , even supplying some diversion. " W h e n C h a r l e s and M a r i e J e n k i n s returned f r o m a visit to L o n d o n Y e a r l y M e e t i n g in 1 9 2 8 , " J a n e relates, " C h a r l e s , then a member of the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee, so impressed us with the socializing effect of tea drinking that w e appointed a committee to serve tea each a f t e r n o o n at the close of the business session." W i t h the date of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g m o v e d since 1 9 3 3 to M a r c h , this pleasant custom has p r o v e d an excellent replacement f o r the lively social hours previously enjoyed in the y a r d in the bright M a y weather. T h e wider outlook of Quakerism a f t e r 1 9 2 0 called f o r 163

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frequent appointment of delegates to various convocations and acceptance of reports upon their return. N o w all dealings with the A m e r i c a n Friends Service Committee, the A m e r i c a n Friends Fellowship Council, the Friends Committee on N a t i o n a l Legislation, and other inclusive bodies g o through the Representative Committee. In the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 9 3 0 the question w a s raised of having a field w o r k e r f o r the Philanthropic Committee. T h e discussion led to the conducting of an extensive survey directed by the Representative Committee to learn the needs and desires of local M e e t i n g s and their attitude tow a r d increased financial outlay if a social service secretary was wanted. A questionnaire was sent by the Central Bureau and special visitors were appointed to c o n f e r with the M e e t i n g s , helping them to study their own problems b e f o r e their answers were sent in. T h e questions embraced a wide field : the attendance and the quality of the meetings f o r worship, the conduct of business meetings, the condition of First-day schools, the strength of the M e e t i n g s ' social concerns, and their financial status. T h e visitors made some interesting discoveries that never would have been apparent if f o r m a l written answers had been the only basis of reporting. A l l M e e t i n g s a v o w e d g r e a t interest in education, but in several cases the members who advocated increases in the budget to benefit the school w e r e d e f e a t e d . " A r e you concerned about Indians ? " the visitor would inquire. " O h , y e s . " " W h a t are you doing f o r them ? " " O h , well, Friends have always been interested in I n d i a n s . " A l l announced that their greatest tie was to the meeting f o r worship. Y e t in about half the localities the best attendance w a s in the First-day school. W h e n a number of M e e t i n g s r e f u s e d to report their budgets, persuasion h a d to be used. One was shown that its figures 164

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would prove to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g that it had been unduly assessed, another that it would have more appreciation and credit if others knew how much it w a s doing f o r the Y e a r l y Meeting. One, when asked if the quota assigned was a burden, said it was. T h e n it was disclosed that this M e e t i n g held a small endowment and the membership made no contributions at all. Nevertheless, it felt the quota a burden because it did not make use of the helpful material and advice which the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g offered. Jane visited on this mission a number of M e e t i n g s , finding herself assigned to all the troublesome ones. T h e outcome was a considerable clarification of the functioning and the financial state of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , although it was six years before the Philanthropic Committee was able to appoint a field w o r k e r . T h e M e e t i n g s as such were generally not dealing with social conditions except through the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g committees. M a n y members were active f o r local betterment in projects often originated and wholly or largely managed by Friends, but these undertakings were not a M e e t i n g responsibility. E v e n temperance (prohibition was then a lively political issue) and race relations, both expressing testimonies long cherished by Friends, were much neglected. A f t e r calling on the membership to exert itself as vigorously on these and other problems as it had done on peace, the report adds : " O u r survey does not suggest the w a y this should be done. It rather seems to reveal that w e are not feeling forcibly enough that anything needs to be d o n e . " Jane's manner of formulating the report showed her grasp of the needs of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g as conclusively as did her originating and directing of the questionnaire. In the replies there had been a deep concern f o r the religious spirit in the meetings f o r worship, satisfaction with 165

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the basis of silent search, but desire f o r better vocal expression. T o meet this need f o r improved preaching we find a suggestion straight f r o m J a n e ' s own hand. P e o p l e a c c u s t o m e d t o filling their m i n d s c o n t i n u o u s l y with the a f f a i r s of t h e m a t e r i a l w o r l d c a n n o t hope t o w o r s h i p s a t i s f a c t o r i l y b y r e a s o n of e n t e r i n g a m e e t i n g house and t a k i n g a seat. W o r s h i p m u s t be p r e p a r e d f o r b y m e d i t a t i o n o u t s i d e of the m e e t i n g hour, b y r e a d i n g i n s p i r a t i o n a l l i t e r a t u r e , b y s t u d y , a n d b y h a b i t s of l i v i n g a n d t h i n k i n g as h u m a n beings doing t h e i r s m a l l p a r t in a d i v i n e plan.

N o w h e r e was the penetration of J a n e ' s mind more valuable to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g than in the thought she g a v e to the care and expenditures of its funds. A l r e a d y , b e f o r e her appointment to the Representative Committee, several of the J e a n e s g i f t s had come in. Besides the Samuel J e a n e s F u n d of $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 f o r educational purposes given by A n n a T . J e a n e s in 1 8 9 5 and the M a r y J e a n e s F u n d of $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 f o r student aid in 1 9 0 0 , which have been already described, A n n a J e a n e s had presented in 1 8 9 6 the J o s e p h J e a n e s F u n d of $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 to establish and maintain b o a r d i n g homes f o r the aged and infirm in the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g s , and in 1 8 9 9 the Samuel J e a n e s F u n d of $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 to assist in the repair and construction of meeting houses. It w a s said that this last g i f t was prompted by a r e m a r k of her coachman as he d r o v e her past a country meeting house. " I t ' s too bad the Q u a k e r s always have such run-down looking churches," he said. T h e man's observation and his e m p l o y e r ' s resultant action have made a material change in the appearance of many of the buildings. J a n e recalls the origin of another of A n n a J e a n e s ' g i f t s . One day this F r i e n d saw workmen laying out the ground plans in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r the erection of the Y o u n g F r i e n d s A s s o c i a t i o n building at 1 4 0 N o r t h F i f t e e n t h Street ( l a t e r e n l a r g e d as the W h i t t i e r H o t e l ) . T h i s involved tearing 166

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down some old houses. She stopped and asked why they were not going all the way to the corner of Cherry Street. T h e y told her that someone else owned that lot. " I am the owner. I direct you to take down that building," she is reported to have said. Whether or not the story is factual, she did transfer that property to the Yearly Meeting, and the new structure included the corner site. L a t e r the Representative Committee transferred the title of this portion of the land to the Young Friends Association. A s these impressive donations poured into the coffers of the Y e a r l y Meeting, the Trustees felt that both they and the Meeting should be under greater legal protection, and they obtained in 1898 a charter of incorporation f r o m the state. A l f r e d M o o r e was the first president of the legalized body. T h i s same careful lawyer was summoned by Anna Jeanes when she wished to make her will. A s they talked over its possible provisions, her counsel offered a f e w suggestions. " I sent f o r thee to write my will, not to tell me what to put in it," she said tartly. Anna Jeanes died in 1 9 0 7 . It was then learned that she still had important sums to dispose o f . One of her largest bequests was of a million dollars to be used f o r the education of Negroes in the South. T h i s fund, not under the care of Friends, is still an active factor in lifting the level of rural schools f o r Negroes throughout the South. She made gifts to hospitals, schools f o r the blind, children's homes, and other public benefits, and she increased her largess to the Y e a r l y Meeting. She bequeathed $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 to the Philanthropic Committee f o r its w o r k ; she created a further fund under her brother Joseph's name of $ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 to establish infirmaries in connection with the boarding homes; she set up a bequest amounting to $ 3 5 , 0 0 0 f o r the 167

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a s s i s t a n c e o f d i s a b l e d w o m e n F r i e n d s in t h e s e h o m e s ; she d e v i s e d the S t a p e l e y F a r m F u n d o f $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 f o r a d d i t i o n a l s u p p o r t o f the h o m e s a n d i n f i r m a r i e s ; finally she l e f t her residuary estate, originally about a million and a half d o l l a r s , t o e s t a b l i s h w h a t is n o w k n o w n as t h e J e a n e s Hospital. W h i l e some of these f u n d s w e r e depleted by losses duri n g t h e d e p r e s s i o n of t h e 1 9 3 0 ' s , o t h e r s h a v e b e e n inc r e a s e d . T h e r e is a s p e c i a l J o s e p h J e a n e s f u n d o f i n v e s t e d i n c o m e a m o u n t i n g to $ 1 6 , 0 0 0 w h i c h is u s e d f o r t h e b o a r d i n g - h o m e i n f i r m a r i e s . T h e i n c o m e o f the r e s i d u a r y e s t a t e w a s a d d e d to the p r i n c i p a l f o r s o m e y e a r s b e f o r e the h o s p i t a l w a s b u i l t until n o w the e n d o w m e n t , i n c l u d i n g building and grounds, totals about three and a half m i l l i o n s . A l t h o u g h the T r u s t e e s h o l d a n d m a n a g e all t h e J e a n e s H o s p i t a l f u n d s by permission of the Y e a r l y M e e t ing, the d i s p o s a l is in the h a n d s , n o t o f a c o m m i t t e e o f the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g ' s selection, but of one a p p o i n t e d out of ( o r actually at present b y ) the Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g H o m e C o m m i t t e e s — a n o d d q u i r k in A n n a J e a n e s ' b e q u e s t . T h e T r u s t e e s a l s o c a r e f o r , it m i g h t be a d d e d , a n u m b e r of other funds besides those given by A n n a T . J e a n e s . T h e income of some of these goes directly to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . T h a t a c c r u i n g f r o m m o r e t h a n $ 7 0 0 , 0 0 0 w i l l e d to G e o r g e S c h o o l is p a i d d i r e c t l y to the s c h o o l ' s c o m m i t t e e a t the d i r e c t i o n each y e a r o f t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . O t h e r inc o m e is s p e c i f i e d b y d o n o r s f o r p h i l a n t h r o p i c w o r k , a n d is s o a l l o c a t e d b y the F i n a n c e C o m m i t t e e . I n a d d i t i o n , w i t h the c o n s e n t o f the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g o r R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e , t h e m o n e y s h a n d l e d b y the T r u s t e e s i n c l u d e s u m s bequeathed f o r the benefit of certain s u b o r d i n a t e M e e t ings, F r i e n d s ' C e n t r a l School, F r i e n d s N e i g h b o r h o o d G u i l d , a n d o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s , in n o n e o f w h i c h t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g h a s a n y financial i n t e r e s t . 168

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During the period that the Y e a r l y Meeting had very little money to spend, it was customary to make minutes granting permission to committees to draw on the treasurer f o r necessary expenses. L a t e r the committees began to ask f o r fixed sums when their reports were made, and a Budget Committee was established on which representatives of the asking committees served. It was natural f o r each member to feel that the committee to which he belonged really needed money more than the others, so that it was difficult to have impartial judgment on the division. A f t e r the income f r o m the E m m a R . Comly Fund became available in 1 9 3 5 and much more money was on hand f o r the extension of work, J a n e Rushmore proposed that a new financial system be worked out and operated under a new Finance Committee. T h e idea was approved and turned over to the Representative Committee to implement. J a n e was at this time, of course, clerk of the Representative Committee and as such felt a great responsibility in regard to the money in its care and in its disposition. She had already persuaded it to provide more careful regulations f o r administering the income of the Samuel Jeanes Fund f o r meeting houses. She now gave her attention to the larger financial problem, developing its plan with the aid of an able lawyer and financier, H o w a r d Cooper Johnson, who was just retiring from seventeen years' service on the Representative Committee. H e was serving his sixteenth year as one of the Y e a r l y Meeting Trustees and his third as president of that body. T h e recommended plan, adopted by the Y e a r l y Meeting of 1 9 3 6 , provides careful advance study of the financial operations and needs of committees and affiliated interests by a small group within the Finance Committee. T h e same group also studies the amount that can reasonably be 169

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raised by local M e e t i n g quotas. T h e Finance Committee then presents to the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee its recommendations f o r securing and distributing the funds. App r o v a l by the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e is necessary b e f o r e the budget is f o r w a r d e d to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g for adoption. A n y outside groups, such as Pendle H i l l or the F r i e n d s Fellowship Council, must, in the same w a y as Y e a r l y M e e t i n g committees, lay their appeal for Y e a r l y M e e t i n g help b e f o r e the Finance Committee, which will recommend or revise their requests. One of the specific problems which concerned J a n e R u s h m o r e w a s the difficulty of fulfilling promises of funds to committees when the t r e a s u r e r had little money on hand and had to depend upon collections, or quotas, f o r w a r d e d i r r e g u l a r l y by local M e e t i n g s . W i t h the accumulated Comly estate income it w a s possible to set aside a t r e a s u r y reserve of considerable size. C h a r l e s F . Jenkins, who as a f o r m e r t r e a s u r e r of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g had often been obliged to b o r r o w money t e m p o r a r i l y to meet committee allotments, experienced g r e a t surprise when he h e a r d of the l a r g e t r e a s u r y balance instead of the three or four thousand d o l l a r s he h a d usually carried. On the occasion of J a n e ' s eightieth b i r t h d a y he contributed a poem which contained these lines : She w a t c h e s all the little things, how m o n e y goes and where, A n d not a dollar's budgeted unless the cash is t h e r e ; T h e w o n d e r m e n t of financiers, economists and scholars, T h e Y e a r l y Meeting's t r e a s u r y holds fifty t h o u s a n d dollars! If M r . M o r g a n t h a u would t a k e o u r J a n e t o W a s h i n g t o n , Presto! N o bonds w o u l d be required, all deficits undone, If he would o n l y t r y her plan, receive the nation's t h a n k s , F o r ne'er a dollar would be pledged unless 'twas in the banks.

Since the present financial plan has been in operation, unpleasant differences of opinion about money have never a p p e a r e d in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g sessions; confidence in the 170

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judgment of the Finance and Representative Committees is general and Friends have learned that the Yearly Meeting does not make appropriations except on the recommendation of the Representative Committee. The value of such careful oversight is the more appreciated by Friends as they have seen the Yearly Meeting's annual outlay rise from approximately $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 a year when the Central Bureau opened in 1 9 1 1 to more than $65,000 in 1 9 5 2 . In 1935 the Yearly Meeting received its first allocation from the trust set up under the will of Emma R. Comly, for which the Girard Trust Company was named executor and trustee. She had the disposition of the estate of her father, Seth Comly, and drew her will in liberal terms. She suggested but did not direct how the money might be applied for religious, philanthropic, charitable, and educational purposes, including publications. The income of this trust accumulated and was added to the principal during the protracted adjudication of the estate. The last annual amount turned over to the Yearly Meeting ( 1 9 5 2 ) was $23,500. The freedom granted in the general terms of the will has been very valuable in increasing the activity of the Yearly Meeting. Among the property improvements to which the money has been applied were converting the Cherry Street Meeting House into its present form and remodeling part of the old elementary school building into offices for the Friends General Conference and the Friends Intelligencer. Besides the help which the fund provides for the work of many of the standing committees, it also gives a considerable and important subsidy every year to the Friends Intelligencer, although the paper is not owned or controlled by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting except through its membership in the Friends General Conference. 171

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R a p p o r t has been extremely close between the R e p r e sentative Committee, the Finance Committee, and the T r u s t e e s . T h i s w a s particularly the case during the y e a r s when J a n e R u s h m o r e was a member and then clerk of the first, and H o w a r d C o o p e r J o h n s o n a member and then president of the last. A s J a n e considered new business f o r the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee to undertake, H o w a r d J o h n s o n was invariably generous of time and advice. W h i l e he was still on the Committee, J a n e depended on him to bring to a halt ill-advised w a v e s of emotion that occasionally stirred the sessions. D u r i n g the depression y e a r s H o w a r d J o h n s o n carried a h e a v y burden of responsibility f o r the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g . H e g a v e g r e a t thought and energy to pulling the T r u s t e e s out of difficulty then. H e set up a plan f o r a reserve f u n d which w o u l d withhold 1 0 per cent of income to recoup losses, asking all beneficiaries if they would be willing to h a v e this done. E v e n t u a l l y all agreed and the protective f u n d continues to exist. H e was the first president w h o m a d e a report to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g which the general membership could understand. Consequently, the M e e t ing itself was the more r e a d y to support the counsel and action of the T r u s t e e s , though it had always been g r a t e f u l f o r the important, self-sacrificing service of these uns a l a r i e d members w h o carry responsibility f o r the care of ( 1 9 5 2 ) nearly six million dollars. H o w a r d C o o p e r J o h n s o n remained a trustee until 1 9 5 1 , but he retired as president in 1 9 4 6 , the y e a r a f t e r J a n e retired as clerk of the Representative Committee. T h e s e f r i e n d s of twenty-five y e a r s ' working-together held a little pleasant interchange on their respective w i t h d r a w a l s . T h e president of the T r u s t e e s w a s at the time financial vicepresident of S t r a w b r i d g e and Clothier, one of the largest department stores in Philadelphia and one of Q u a k e r origin. H e w r o t e to J a n e in A p r i l of 1 9 4 5 : 172

UNDER WEIGHTY A P P O I N T M E N T I n t a l k i n g w i t h associates in m y o w n d e p a r t m e n t here a t t h e store this m o r n i n g , I m a d e an unqualified s t a t e m e n t t h a t thee w a s the s m a r t e s t business person I h a v e e v e r m e t , and t h a t if thee had h a d s o m e experience in m e r c h a n d i s i n g and had another t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s of e x p e c t a n c y , thee w o u l d m a k e the best d e p a r t m e n t store e x e c u t i v e I could find.

M o r e formally he addressed her a f t e r her actual retirement as clerk. I h a v e myself witnessed the f o r w a r d m a r c h of P h i l a d e l p h i a Q u a k e r i s m u n d e r t h y inspiring leadership, and there has been no o t h e r person in the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g w h o has d o n e so m u c h t o inspire t h e b e s t in others and t o g e n t l y retard useless c h a t t e r a b o u t inconseq u e n t i a l m a t t e r s . I t is rare indeed for such w i s d o m t o be a c c o m p a n i e d b y a sense of h u m o r w h i c h has been responsible f o r w i n n i n g m a n y victories for a j u s t cause.

Jane's letters to him are not available, but she freely acknowledges her reliance upon his business advice, financial judgment, and devoted attention to the Y e a r l y M e e t ing's affairs. A m o n g many strong and able members of the Representative Committee there were two others with w h o m Jane had close personal friendship, John S. C . and E m i l y Bishop H a r v e y . T h e i r interests centered in their religious society : they g a v e dedicated service to the Representative C o m mittee, to their home M e e t i n g , to the committees on temperance and peace, to Friends N e i g h b o r h o o d Guild, and to Pendle H i l l . John H a r v e y was a valuable member of the executive board of the American Friends Service C o m mittee, and was one of the early supporters of the idea of a Friends H o u s e in Philadelphia. B o t h of them were never-failing in their regular attendance at Y e a r l y M e e t ing where they took active part. T h e central concerns o f Friends were their own, and they talked them over freely with Jane. Jane Rushmore retired as clerk of the Representative Committee f o l l o w i n g the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1945, and as

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a member of the Committee in 1 9 4 8 . H e r twenty-seven years of w o r k with this important body were widely recognized both officially and by messages f r o m friends. A special minute adopted in N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 5 r e c o r d s : . . . deep appreciation for her able services and her valued leadership. . . . During the years that J a n e P. R u s h m o r e has served as clerk there have been significant developments. . . . In each [she] displayed forward-looking co-operation combined with sound judgment. T h e members of this committee have been greatly favored in the service of our Friend J a n e P. Rushmore as clerk during her long tenure of office.

T h e report of the Committee to the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 9 4 6 states, " U n d e r her guidance the committee became a well-organized, smoothly functioning b o d y , " and r e f e r s at the end to " t h e f o r e s i g h t and efficiency of one w h o has had the w e l f a r e of her Y e a r l y M e e t i n g and the Society of Friends uppermost in her mind f o r many y e a r s . " Of the many personal tributes, that of J o h n H . W o o d in 1 9 4 8 embraces the sentiments expressed o r implied by most of the others. . . . all of my few years of associating with the committee and Yearly Meeting affairs have had thee as the one strong reliable figure with ideas and j u d g m e n t s which invariably suited me exactly. T h y expressions j u s t always seemed so clear and fair that they eliminated further discussion and endless debate which so often happens when there is no one of strong character and wide experience and accurate memory to express what becomes a final decision. We shall miss thee very much, but my chief regret is that those coming on the committee will not be able to experience and benefit by listening to thee on the matters of importance to the Y e a r l y Meeting which arise constantly. T h e Society of Friends, the Y e a r l y Meeting, every committee, and each one of us owe thee a great debt — one that m a y be repaid only in the satisfaction which thee must feel over the years of worthwhile work done. I do hope that thee m a y have a long enjoyment as an observer without being too disturbed with mistakes t h a t the rest of us make. 174

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Crumbling Walls In the eye of history a religious group may achieve distinction by its peculiarities or by its impact on events external to itself. Its importance in spiritual power, however, depends on whether or not its members live in a state of grace. T h e most tender and the most searching of the " Q u e r i e s " which Friends have addressed to themselves f o r some three centuries begins, " A r e love and unity maintained among y o u ? " Herein Philadelphia Friends had conspicuously failed at the time of the Separation. But while anger and passion and disdain boiled f o r years on both sides, slowly the heat subsided and the probing of the Query into conscience was felt. Unfortunately the cooling lava left barriers both high and thick. Even when individuals here and there crossed over and made friends with persons of the "other branch," any official action was still f a r away. Because the Hicksites had been the ones actually to walk out of the famous session of the Y e a r l y Meeting in 1 8 2 7 and had opposed the Elders and the Meeting f o r Sufferings, they were regarded as secessionists of unsound tenets by those who remained in possession of A r c h Street Meeting House. T h e latter, while outnumbered two to one as the local congregations soon divided all across the Y e a r l y Meeting, believed firmly that the A r k of the Covenant reposed with them, especially since they were the section recognized by the London Y e a r l y Meeting. T h e Hicksites, however, refused to consider themselves as secessionists or heretics. T h e y had withdrawn, they said, as " a quiet retreat f r o m this scene of confusion."

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T h e y proclaimed no new theology in their Discipline, they emphasized w h a t they believed to be the earliest principles of Friends, especially t h a t " G o d alone is sovereign L o r d of conscience," and they insisted t h a t u n d e r H i s direct guidance they h a d liberty to p r o p o u n d doctrine. F o r a time the divergence increased by reason of the s t r o n g evangelicalism of the O r t h o d o x , and the g r o w i n g Hicksite stress upon the I n n e r L i g h t . In the I n n e r L i g h t the Hicksites f o u n d a divine illumination of the conscience as it is directed t o w a r d God, a vision of H i s supreme greatness, of H i s unlimited love, and some apprehension of the m e a n i n g of life within H i s divine purposes. On this immediate experience of God, on the f r e e d o m of the individual to i n t e r p r e t f o r himself w h a t G o d requires of him, and to decide w h a t intellectual concepts f o r him most nearly embody the t r u t h , H i c k s i t e F r i e n d s have solidly m a i n t a i n e d their g r o u n d . * In the first decades this emphasis took the extreme f o r m of belittling religious education and theology. Because the a u t h o r i t y of the I n n e r L i g h t was considered superior to the a u t h o r i t y of Scripture, the Bible was not extensively r e a d except f o r f a v o r i t e passages and texts. F r i e n d s tended, as J a n e R u s h m o r e has expressed it, to stress their disbeliefs r a t h e r t h a n their positive testimony t h a t individual belief should not be imposed by a u t h o r i t y but should follow the guidance of an earnest search f o r t r u t h . L a t e r generations of Hicksites recognized some of the earlier mistakes. T h e y saw the need of a m o r e reasonable u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the Bible and they m a d e p r o b a b l y the earliest Q u a k e r a t t e m p t s to p r o m o t e religious education. * For f u r t h e r discussion of Hicksite views, see J a n e R u s h m o r e ' s Testimonies and Practice of the Society of Friends (Philadelphia, 1945) and The Quaker IVay (Philadelphia, 1951).

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T h e i r continued opposition to conformity in dogma has led them to an increase in liberality and tolerance of differences. I f they have not been strongly united in beliefs, they have been closely bound in love of liberty. I f they have refused to agree that the essence of religion lies in theological doctrine, they have undergone f e w e r shocks with the discoveries of science and the so-called higher criticism of the Bible than did many of the generation which first met the impact of these new intellectual advances. F o r the Hicksite Friends the adjustment may have been o f t e n difficult, but it seldom shattered the core of their faith. In the last half-century, Hicksite and O r t h o d o x conceptions have constantly increased the area of their common ground. T h i s is due, in Jane Rushmore's observation, to the increasing study of the Bible, newer translations of it, and to a more intellectual view of the long sweep of Biblical history. O n the one side individual interpretations of Scripture wander less f a r afield when there is more accurate knowledge ; on the other, doctrinal regularity is less firmly upheld by w h a t Jane calls proof-texts, that is, texts used to p r o v e a point. E v e n the very sharp differences that have existed on the t w o sides in their views of the nature of Jesus and the meaning o f his death are now g r o w i n g into understanding. T h e prevailing opinion of many Friends in both branches, as Jane sees them, has now come to be that there should not be an attempt to prescribe a theological belief which all are required to accept, but that all should be encouraged to seek f o r , and adhere to, w h a t seems true to them in view of inner divine guidance and intellectual study. A s we move t o w a r d reëstablishing union o f the t w o branches, she says, it is important to hold to the early 177

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principle of f r e e d o m , f o r by that r o a d comes p r o g r e s s . W e should value the experience of others and use it as a test, but we can never substitute it f o r our own. T h e approach t o w a r d each other of the two sides has been a matter of slow g r o w t h . T h e Separation h a d f o r m a n y years a p a r a l y z i n g effect on religious development. T h e Hicksites tended to live to themselves, shut within their walls. A long passage of years was necessary b e f o r e they realized that their usefulness would be g r e a t e r if they l o o k e d beyond their own borders. T h a t idea w a s just beginning to emerge when J a n e R u s h m o r e became active in the Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e . She herself w a s one of the appreciable f a c t o r s in inciting a willingness to change, in stirring to new v i g o r the quiescent and dwindling Society. W e have seen in f o r m e r chapters that perhaps the v e r y first steps t o w a r d a wider fellowship were induced by the visits of some of the E n g l i s h Friends, beginning with J o h n W i l l i a m G r a h a m ' s first trip to A m e r i c a in 1 8 9 6 . H e w a s disappointed that his concern to bring the branches in A m e r i c a together did not bear f r u i t more quickly, but his w o r k unquestionably m a r k e d an important start, f o r he on his repeated trips, and the other E n g l i s h F r i e n d s w h o soon f o l l o w e d , began an acquaintance highly congenial to H i c k s i t e Friends, while the visitors, on reaching home, p r o d d e d L o n d o n into recognition, in 1 9 0 8 , of the H i c k s i t e group. A f t e r 1 9 0 0 some cracking of the walls had started between the two groups in Philadelphia, though scarcely noticeable at first. L e a d e r s like R u f u s J o n e s , I s a a c Sharpless, and C h a r l e s J e n k i n s were determined to widen acquaintance and understanding. Small advances w e r e m a d e , though with much stumbling o v e r h a r d rocks. T h e r e w a s , 178

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f o r instance, the occasion when Jane Rushmore wished to compare a passage in the Race Street Discipline with the equivalent paragraph in the Arch Street one, and asked a member of the latter Meeting if she might borrow her copy. " I ' m sorry, but I don't think I could have my Discipline in the hands of a Race Street Friend," she was told. In spite of rebuffs and difficulties here and there, friendship, mutual respect, and enjoyment developed at a slowly accelerating pace. T h e publication before 1 9 0 0 of " N e w s of Arch Street Friends" in the Intelligencer by H o w a r d M . Jenkins, the friendly competition in sports which Charles F . Jenkins started soon after 1 9 0 2 between the two Quaker resorts in the Poconos, the appearance of Cyrus W . H a r v e y , a Five Y e a r s Meeting Friend f r o m Kansas, at the Winona L a k e Conference in 1908, sporadic friendships arising between members of the two groups, were all good auguries. While in 1 9 1 0 Robert Pyle of W e s t Grove and Hannah Cadbury, an Orthodox Friend of Germantown, could not be married in the latter's own meeting house at Coulter Street but used the Hicksite building on School House Lane, only a few years later weddings between members of the two Y e a r l y Meetings were accomplished in the houses of either side. T h e Y o u n g Friends Movement, united from its inception in 1 9 1 6 , was heartily tramping down barriers in its bailiwick, determined that its generation would be free of old prejudice. Then came a purposeful effort to encourage mingling at the social level between older members of the two Philadelphia branches. In 1 9 2 4 Henry S. Williams, an Arch Street Friend, with a small group including the indefatigable Charles F . Jenkins, initiated the Friends Social Union, composed solely of men on the theory that 179

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t h e y w e r e less w e l l a c q u a i n t e d t h a n t h e w o m e n . A p p r o x i m a t e l y equal numbers f r o m R a c e and A r c h Street met r e g u l a r l y f o r d i n n e r , an a d d r e s s , a n d a s o c i a l e v e n i n g . T h i s b e c a m e a p o p u l a r i n s t i t u t i o n , w i t h w i v e s l a t e r inv i t e d as g u e s t s . C h a r l e s J e n k i n s d u b b e d the a d h e r e n t s " R a c e r s " and " A r c h e r s . " M o r e influential than these social occasions, v a l u a b l e a s t h e y w e r e , w a s the r i s e o f the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s S e r v ice C o m m i t t e e , f o r m e d in 1 9 1 7 u n d e r the d i s t i n g u i s h e d chairmanship of R u f u s M . J o n e s . Its members f o r g o t t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s in the i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e i r c o m m o n w o r k . T h e g r o u p w h i c h o r g a n i z e d the C o m m i t t e e w a s c o m p o s e d of A r c h Street, F i v e Y e a r s Meeting, and General Conf e r e n c e m e m b e r s , the l a s t o f w h o m w e r e J e s s e H . H o l m e s , L u c y Biddle Lewis, Arabella Carter, William H . Cocks, a n d J . B a r n a r d W a l t o n . W i t h no jurisdiction o v e r any o f t h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s , this C o m m i t t e e n o w e m b r a c e s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m n e a r l y all o f t h e m t h r o u g h o u t the c o u n t r y . F u r t h e r m o r e its e f f o r t s f o r r e c o n c i l i a t i o n between hostile nations has m a d e reconciliation ever m o r e n e a r l y a f a c t b e t w e e n t h e r e l i g i o u s b r o t h e r s in f a i t h . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the S e r v i c e C o m m i t t e e m u s t h a v e h a s t e n e d a concurrent m o v e m e n t t o w a r d union that perh a p s w a s a l r e a d y on its w a y in the m a j o r c o m m i t t e e s o f the t w o P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s . B y 1 9 1 9 the t w o c o m m i t t e e s on p e a c e w e r e c o n f e r r i n g r e g u l a r l y , a n d in 1 9 3 3 t h e y m e r g e d i n t o a s i n g l e b o d y . T h e c o m m i t t e e s on race relations, temperance, and social o r d e r f o l l o w e d by b e c o m i n g j o i n t c o m m i t t e e s . T h e C o m m i t t e e on E d u c a t i o n b e c a m e j o i n t in 1 9 4 9 , a n d t h a t on R e l i g i o u s E d u c a t i o n in 1 9 5 2 . T h e B u s i n e s s P r o b l e m s G r o u p a n d the W o m e n ' s P r o b l e m s G r o u p , o f f s h o o t s o f the S o c i a l O r d e r C o m m i t t e e a n d c o m p o s e d f r o m the s t a r t o f F r i e n d s f r o m b o t h

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M e e t i n g s , have, as independent i n f o r m a l gatherings, conducted regular meetings f o r a number of years. T h e American Friends Fellowship Council, established in 1 9 3 5 with the direct aid of the A m e r i c a n Friends Service Committee, is composed of members appointed by most of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s in A m e r i c a , including R a c e Street. T h e Council has stimulated the growth of struggling independent M e e t i n g s and helped to start new ones which do not want to join any branch. T h e s e groups are urged to report to the Fellowship Council, which f u r t h e r encourages them to affiliate with a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g when they feel they can, f o r there is a l w a y s danger that such independent units m a y wander f r o m the main stream of Q u a k e r thought if they are not in touch with any stable body. T h e F e l l o w s h i p Council also maintains bonds with many individual non-Friends w h o are i n f o r m a l l y g r o u p e d into the " W i d e r Q u a k e r F e l l o w s h i p . " T h e F e l l o w s h i p Council has a constant close relationship with the F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e in service to these f r i n g e groups. A d d i t i o n a l channels f o r cooperation among all A m e r i can Q u a k e r s h a v e been Pendle H i l l , the school f o r religious and social study started in 1 9 2 9 , and the F r i e n d s Committee on N a t i o n a l L e g i s l a t i o n , f o r m e d in 1 9 4 3 as an independent body to provide legislative i n f o r m a t i o n and advice on national government policies. F r i e n d s around the w o r l d h a v e been brought into closer touch by the F r i e n d s W o r l d Committee f o r Consultation, established as a permanent outcome of the W o r l d C o n f e r e n c e a of F r i e n d s held at S w a r t h m o r e in 1 9 3 7 . great effort to d r a w all F r i e n d s together a f t e r W o r l d W a r I, L o n d o n Y e a r l y M e e t i n g h a d initiated a W o r l d C o n f e r e n c e in 1 9 2 0 ; the second such gathering assembled seventeen y e a r s later on the S w a r t h m o r e College campus, with a number 181

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of delegates housed, and small g r o u p meetings held, at H a v e r f o r d College, a f e w miles a w a y . T h e occasion p r o v e d to be a f u r t h e r stimulus to all A m e r i c a n Friends in awareness of their common ground. T h e W o r l d Committee which resulted f r o m the C o n f e r e n c e has w o r k e d e v e r since to fuse the small and scattered denomination into more unity of feeling and action. Social mingling, w o r k on joint committees, and participation in supraorganizations began to suggest united meetings f o r worship. Some twenty-five o r m o r e y e a r s a g o a f e e l e r was put out in that direction. A series of joint meetings f o r worship was proposed by O r t h o d o x F r i e n d s to be held at Coulter Street, G e r m a n t o w n , f o r the members of that M e e t i n g and the one held at School H o u s e L a n e . T h e hosts somewhat anxiously made every preparation to have all go as smoothly as possible so that friction would be avoided and complete h a r m o n y p r e v a i l . In the course of the meeting a w o m a n rising to preach used in her f e r v i d discourse a highly evangelical turn of phrase. A t the close of the session a much distressed A r c h Street m e m b e r approached J a n e R u s h m o r e . " I am v e r y sorry about that F r i e n d w h o w a s so excited over theology. I don't know who she is. W e had hoped that nothing would happen to disturb any of y o u . " " D o n ' t w o r r y , " J a n e replied. " W e are used to her. She's one of o u r s . " P e r h a p s the incident in itself helped both sides to see how artifical their barriers w e r e . A start t o w a r d organic union w a s m a d e by members of these same two M e e t i n g s . In 1 9 2 4 a f e w Coulter Street, School H o u s e L a n e , and other members began to meet r e g u l a r l y together under the oversight of the two parent bodies. A f e w years later they built a meeting house in Chestnut H i l l . W h e n a change in the Disciplines of both 182

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Yearly Meetings in 1933 made a new status possible, Chestnut Hill United Monthly Meeting was duly set up and acknowledged by the Quarterly Meetings of each branch, the pioneer united Meeting in Philadelphia. Its example was followed and the movement gained momentum. Besides new Meetings that wished to begin at once as undivided, many old ones have reached out to their neighboring Friends, now that their committee work and schools are united, and have found ways to combine Firstday schools, meetings for worship and for business, and, finally, properties. In 1952 out of a total of ninety Monthly Meetings in the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings twenty-six are united, forty-two belong to Race Street, and twenty-two to Arch. Some Quarterly Meetings have become joint, but only one, Cain, is as yet completely united, an accomplishment of 1952. Similar action is taking place between Hicksite and Orthodox Friends in other Yearly Meetings. Although the process varies with the differing situations, movements toward union are found in New York, Baltimore, Canada, Illinois, and other parts of the country. New England is already a united Yearly Meeting. Arch Street Yearly Meeting has been the initiator in a number of friendly moves. Race Street was hesitant to act first, not wishing to push itself on the other Meeting, but has welcomed the proposals. In 1 9 1 6 Arch Street first sent a copy of its general epistle to Race Street. In 1926 it was Arch Street that passed a minute authorizing certificates of removal to be exchanged with Race. This action, strongly advocated by J . Henry Bartlett, was a step of great significance, f o r it conceded a full recognition of Race Street members as Friends. In 1928 the Arch Street Yearly Meeting proposed an official visit to the sessions of Race Street Yearly Meeting.

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On the day of this momentous overture the clerk of R a c e Street, T h o m a s A . F o u l k e , had to be absent and J a n e R u s h m o r e was acting clerk. J a n e recounts: T h e v i s i t o r s w e r e f o r m a l l y i n t r o d u c e d t o o u r m e e t i n g and m a n y e x p r e s s i o n s of s a t i s f a c t i o n f o l l o w e d a t this g e s t u r e of good f e e l i n g between the two Y e a r l y Meetings. T h e following year R a c e Street r e t u r n e d t h e c o u r t e s y b y s e n d i n g five v i s i t o r s t o A r c h S t r e e t . W e w e r e e s c o r t e d t o f r o n t seats in the g a l l e r y f a c i n g the m e e t i n g , a n d a f t e r a w e l c o m e t o us w e each seemed t o be e x p e c t e d t o s a y s o m e t h i n g fitting a b o u t the t r e n d t o w a r d u n i t y . A f t e r this i n t e r c h a n g e of v i s i t s all F r i e n d s w e r e considered to be w e l c o m e a t t e n d e r s at the sessions of b o t h Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s .

N o t all the overtures, however, were m a d e by A r c h Street. C h a r l e s F . Jenkins in 1 9 3 1 printed and presented to both bodies a c a r e f u l l y thought out Plan for Reuniting the Two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends. H i s proposal w a s to join the two g r o u p s at the top, let the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committees iron out the difficulties, and encourage local M e e t i n g s to consolidate. T h e plan w a s received with interest, but it w a s p r e m a t u r e because Friends w e r e not generally well enough acquainted across the line and were not used to the idea of union. W h i l e it was not accepted, it challenged thinking and brought the possibility sharply b e f o r e the attention of F r i e n d s . N o w that the issue had been raised, it began to revolve in other minds. M e a n w h i l e the fusions of subordinate meetings was increasing. T h e n in 1 9 4 5 both Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s received a f o r m a l communication f r o m " a joint committee of Friends f o r M o n t g o m e r y and Bucks C o u n t i e s " which f o r t h r i g h t l y asked f o r the union of the two Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s at once. T h e representative bodies were each directed to consider possible ways and means, and they appointed a joint subcommittee f o r the purpose. T h e F r i e n d s named to this 184

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undertaking met in a spirit of humility and search, though at the start some of them felt that their task was nearly hopeless. But when the will exists the way is apt to open. First, the Queries were made uniform f o r both Meetings and accepted in 1946. Then a plan was evolved, presented to and adopted by both Y e a r l y Meetings of 1946, f o r an annual General Meeting to be held in the autumn to consider such matters and transact such business as the two Y e a r l y Meetings might refer to it. T h e entire Race and Arch Street membership composes de facto the General Meeting. November 1 to 3, 1946, saw the initial gathering of this new body. F o r the first two days it sat at Race Street, f o r the final day at Fourth and Arch. T o most of those present, the occasion was one of deep thanksgiving. M o r e and more Friends felt ashamed that the love and unity so precious to them as an outreach both to G o d and to their fellow men was violated in their own tiny segment of the Christian church. A n d to many the violation no longer had any meaning. W h y should the artificial wall continue ? These sentiments, however, were not yet general. H i s t o r y must still take its course slowly. Discussion of the building up of spiritual reservoirs through the meetings f o r worship was first on the agenda of the General Meeting. Other topics were consideration of Quaker epistles f r o m all over the world, reports f r o m the American Friends Service Committee, the W o r l d Committee, the Fellowship Council, and the Committee on National Legislation. In succeeding years more and more of the joint committees of the two Y e a r l y Meetings have asked to present their reports to the November gathering. T h e Y e a r l y Meetings are still the grantors of authority to the General Meeting, which has no treasury 185

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and until 1 9 5 2 no office or correspondent. Bills incurred h a v e been divided between the two M e e t i n g s f o r payment and in 1 9 5 2 the Central Bureau was designated as the address, with an assistant clerk as correspondent. Side by side with the increasing efforts to attain a new f e l l o w s h i p between the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s came a wider problem of union among Christian churches. T w o g r e a t interdenominational conferences w e r e held in 1 9 3 7 at O x f o r d and E d i n b u r g h . T o the latter of these A l f r e d C . G a r r e t t w a s a delegate f r o m A r c h Street and at both E l b e r t Russell represented the F i v e Y e a r s M e e t i n g . T h e s e conferences were the final steps p r e p a r a t o r y to the f o r m a tion of a W o r l d Council of Churches. T o this Council all churches would be eligible upon their expressed agreement with one short statement: " T h e W o r l d Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches which accepts our L o r d J e s u s Christ as G o d and S a v i o u r . " Should R a c e Street Y e a r l y M e e t i n g be p r e p a r e d to join on such a basis i f , as seemed likely, it were invited? T h e answer was not simple to find. A committee f r o m the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e Committee and f r o m M i n i s t r y and Counsel studied the question. T h e i r first report, circulated early in 1 9 4 0 , emphasized the f a c t that Friends h a v e a l w a y s been unwilling to f o r m u l a t e prescribed theological beliefs. I t is not opinion, or speculation, or notions of w h a t is t r u e . . . or t h e subscription of articles of propositions, t h o u g h never so s o u n d l y w o r k e d , t h a t . . . m a k e s a m a n a t r u e believer or a t r u e C h r i s t i a n ; b u t it is c o n f o r m i t y of mind and practice t o t h e will of G o d . . . according t o t h e d i c t a t e s of this divine principle of light and life in t h e soul which denotes a person t r u l y a child of G o d . *

So said W i l l i a m Penn, and so have said the Friends ever since. Strongly opposed as they had always been to any * Messenger, Second month, 1940.

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f o r m of creed, most Race Street Friends also found the w o r d i n g of the basic statement cast in a f o r m not acceptable to them. H o w e v e r intense their allegiance to Jesus as M a s t e r and as interpreter of G o d through the Divine Spirit which transfigured him, they were not accustomed to r e f e r r i n g to him as " G o d and S a v i o r . " O n the other hand as the report says : Christianity, neglected for years, is attacked as a degenerate vestige of an ancient past, and men are urged to concentrate their religious instincts upon a state, or a leader, or a race. . . . W h a t chance has the Christian religion to bring salvation if its force is divided? . . . T o unite Christendom as a world force for righteousness does not, as Friends see it, require a common creed or organic union. T h e essentials of unity are the love of God and the love of man, conceived and practiced in the spirit of Christ. B u t such love will not flourish in a vacuum of isolation. It requires contact. W e must know our Christian brethren and share their labors. Indeed, Friends desire closer co-operation with Christians everywhere.*

B e f o r e Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g convened, the Friends General Conference had received the invitation to join the W o r l d Conference and decision must be reached. Discussions at the annual session w e r e serious and prolonged. A t last Race Street Friends agreed that their members on the Central Committee should recommend to Friends General Conference a request that the W o r l d Council include the Conference "in any f o r m of association which may seem right f o r a religious body which, never having required of its members the acceptance of any formula of belief, holds that the basis of fellowship is an inward experience, and that the essentials o f unity are the love of G o d and the love o f man conceived and practiced in the spirit of C h r i s t . " Similar minutes w e r e adopted by the five other Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s o f *

Ibid.

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the C o n f e r e n c e , and the m e s s a g e w a s f o r w a r d e d to the W o r l d Council. Bliss F o r b u s h w a s appointed delegate f r o m the C o n f e r e n c e to the o r g a n i z i n g meeting of the W o r l d Council in A m s t e r d a m in the summer of 1 9 4 8 , the earliest that it could assemble a f t e r the w a r . A f t e r talking with m a n y of the Council leaders, Bliss F o r b u s h w a s convinced that F r i e n d s should be a p a r t of this g r e a t movement. T h e Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 9 4 9 w a s i n f o r m e d that F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e a p p e a r e d to be accepted as a member of the W o r l d Council. A g a i n m i s g i v i n g s were expressed as to whether such a position should be continued. Bliss F o r b u s h came f r o m B a l t i m o r e to explain at length that the Council did not r e g a r d their statement as a creed, that immense e f f o r t h a d gone into finding the simplest possible definition of all-embracing Christianity, that the churches h a d f u l l f r e e d o m to interpret the w o r d s in their own w a y , and that if a denomination h a d any belief in the incarnation of G o d in man, any belief in G o d ' s p o w e r of salvation, then it w a s eligible and acceptable as a member of the Council. H i s presentation won the day. In spite of reservations in the minds of some F r i e n d s , they a g r e e d that this w a s no time to withhold f r o m sharing the burden and concern of the w h o l e Christian C h u r c h . T h e y w o u l d greatly h a v e p r e f e r r e d the w o r d i n g of their own statement of essential unity. B u t the Council could not entertain the suggestion of a change, though it w a n t e d F r i e n d s to join because of the practical w o r k being done t h r o u g h the A m e r i c a n Friends Service C o m m i t t e e . In the end all the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s in the G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e a g r e e d to its continuing a m e m b e r of the W o r l d Council, at least f o r the present. 188

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It is of interest to note that while London Yearly Meeting did not accept membership in the Council on the ground that the basis was actually creedal, Arch Street joined in spite of uneasiness at what they considered to be a definition of the undefinable. W i t h their agreement to become a member they included this statement: In accepting membership in the World Council of Churches we wish it understood t h a t we do not accept any doctrinal statement as a fixed dogma. N o creedal statement can contain the truth regarding the significance of the Revelation of God in Jesus Christ — for that truth is a living truth, based not on words but on inner experience and it will inevitably be interpreted by different men in different times according to their ability and insight.*

Here was a different working out o f Friends' belief in love and unity, and of their principle that interest in and helpfulness toward other groups were more important to the advance of Christianity than the wording o f doctrinal statements. Friends had seen the devastating effect of noncoöperation in their own body. Unity in work and service seemed so essential that with the freedom of interpretation allowed to all, Hicksite as well as Orthodox were clear that they need not debar themselves from affiliation in furthering the Council's efforts. When the two Philadelphia Meetings found themselves in agreement on this issue, there seemed to many members less reason than ever for postponing their own union. T h e General Meeting was a step forward in making common ground. But it was not what more and more Friends craved, the single and complete body of united Philadelphia Quakerism. I t was at best a temporary expedient until the time should be ripe for actual amalgamation. Further impetus to the consummation was given on the * Minute 52, Proceedings of Philadelphia 189

Yearly Meeting, Arch Street,

IÇ4Ç.

UNDER Q U A K E R APPOINTMENT

return of T h o m a s and E l i z a F o u l k e f r o m J a p a n just bef o r e the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g of 1 9 5 0 . T h e Foulkes had spent a y e a r under appointment by the A m e r i c a n F r i e n d s Service Committee, T h o m a s F o u l k e as director of L A R A ( L i censed Agencies f o r Relief in A s i a ) , and both of them as l e a d e r s of the new neighborhood center which the A m e r i can F r i e n d s Service Committee w a s establishing in T o k y o . B o t h took active p a r t in the F r i e n d s ' M e e t i n g there and became interested in all the F r i e n d s ' activities. B o t h also became deeply a w a r e of the tremendous misfortune of a divided Quakerism at home, which was hard to explain o r condone on the other side of the world. T h e y came back, on fire themselves, determined to kindle the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g s of Philadelphia into f o r m i n g some plan f o r immediate union. A s a result each body appointed members to a joint committee to study how a complete union might be effected, and at the same time appointed another joint committee to compile a common Book of Discipline. T h e s e committees, at w o r k at the present time, are making continual p r o g r e s s . A s J a n e R u s h m o r e watches the development t o w a r d union with keen interest, she r e m a r k s upon how generous the A r c h Street F r i e n d s have been, how they have given up their isolation, proposed the study of united M e e t i n g s involving changes in both Disciplines, and time a f t e r time h a v e joined the R a c e Street position. She feels that there is a l r e a d y a common basis of unity in the common Queries, the joint committees, the G e n e r a l M e e t i n g , and the m a n y united subordinate M e e t i n g s . She suggests a clarification that m a y help to obviate some of the remaining difficulties. F a i t h and belief a r e closely related in our thinking, in J a n e ' s estimation, but there is a distinction which we do well to keep in mind.

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Faith is a spiritual quality. It refers to the direct relationship between God our Father and ourselves; it makes us aware of unseen realities. Belief is an intellectual quality. It may change for each of us as we develop more. W e may all share the same faith, yet vary in our individual beliefs. It should not be hard to unite the branches on a basis of faith centering around our centuries-old profession of that Divine Immanence which we call the Inner Light, under whose guidance there can be freedom. But that freedom, Jane concludes, is not freedom to have no faith, nor freedom to act irresponsibly, but the accountable freedom to search for, and then to follow, the truth as we can discern it.

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CHAPTER X I I The Active

Eighties

O n January 28, 1944, the day that Jane Rushmore w a s eighty years old, she was given a birthday party. A t the luncheon in the auditorium of the W h i t t i e r more than t w o hundred of her friends crowded the long tables, bright on that mid-winter noon with quantities of yellow roses f r o m her L o n d o n G r o v e alumni. H a n n a h Clothier H u l l , the gay and spirited toastmistress, called up speeches that were full of merriment, affection, and admiration f o r the guest of honor. A s expected, R u f u s Jones opened his remarks with an appropriate s t o r y — o f the M a i n e f a r m e r who, on being asked, " H a v e you lived here all your l i f e ? " replied, " N o t y i t . " Charles F . Jenkins brought his amusing " j i n g l e , " part of which has already been quoted in a previous chapter. A f t e r offering " f u l l h o n o r s " to Jane's "three score years and ten," he went on : This was the phrase the Psalmist used, a ceiling date quite plain, T o o bad he added that four score was sorrow, pride and pain. B u t old K i n g D a v i d did not know, strumming his golden strings, Of vitamins and vaccines and new hygienic things. Remember, too, this time-worn truth, a dictum wise and weighty, Some folks are old at fifty-one and some are young at eighty! T h e Russians have their patriarch; the Romans Pius V I I I ; T h e Anglicans, archbishops created b y the State; T h u s every sect, in everyclime, has someone at the top — B u t now I see red lights ahead! Perhaps it's time to stop, A n d only add that there is one in Race Street Y e a r l y Meeting W h o night and day is on the job; we bring her loving greeting.

A f t e r a number of persons had recounted Jane's many services to Friends, Ruth and Irvin P o l e y appeared on the stage to give a skit of Jane interviewing Richmond M i l l e r 193

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b e f o r e he took his new job at the Bureau. T h i s fairly brought down the house, so well were Jane's crisp sentences and imperturbable manner ever so slightly overdone. Of the several happy poems produced f o r the day, an especially perceptive one was written by Richard R. W o o d , an Arch Street Friend : T o d a y we honor thee — t h y spirit young, T h y ready wit, t h y never yielding will. W e bid thee, like Ulysses, onward voyage One equal t e m p e r of heroic heart T o tell us t h a t life's changing lights and shades, Its burden of experience, form an arch T h r o u g h which t h e h i t h e r t o untraveled world Gleams brighter, broader-margined, with the years. 'Tis this in thee t h a t gives encouragement — T h i s dauntless, onward-pressing zest for life And those who live it. Fools are not by thee Gladly endured; and yet are we upraised, N o t quenched, by t h y quick judgments. In t h y mind W e feel potentiality of men T o see the need, t o do t h e deed, and rest In quiet, confident, untroubled faith, Serenely planning the next forward step.

T h e gathering at that birthday party was a fair demonstration of the scope of Jane's friendships. H e r avid interest in people and her loyalty to her associates brought together pupils of half a century before, active businessmen who had served on committees with her, well-known Friends f r o m Arch Street, her co-workers throughout Race Street Yearly Meeting, and her neighbors at home. T h e s e neighbors have known a slightly different J a n e f r o m the woman of business capacity, direct thinking, and clear statement so much appreciated on working days. I n the several places she has lived there has accumulated a 194

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company of those who remember the candy-making parties, the nights she took care of their sick, the games she invented, the birds she could identify. When she and Emma Wallace settled on the edge of Riverton, Ν. J., they became unmistakably a part of the Quaker community there. The house which they built in 1918 has almost always been shared by some other friend or relative. Dr. Mary Rushmore's adopted daughter, Alice T . Harwell, came there when she was twelve years old at the death of her foster mother. H e r care and education to independent adulthood was a special responsibility, just as her appreciative disposition and constant helpfulness were a constant pleasure until on account of her health she had to live in the South. Blanche Early, a warm friend, lived with the family for several years, as did Anna Rushmore Irwin after the death of her husband. Recently Emma Wallace's widowed sister, Elsie W . Thomas, has been welcomed to the household. A group of women, long-time intimates at Buck Hill and Riverton, has met for thirty years or more to read twentieth-century poetry. The extent of their explorations is attested by the variety of the books on Jane's shelves : Amy Lowell, Carl Sandburg, Katherine Mansfield, Louis Untermeyer, Edna St. Vincent Millay, John Masefield, Stephen Benêt, T . S. Eliot. T o this home life Jane was, at the time of the birthday party, contemplating retirement. She had been gradually giving up some duties for several years, and, as we have seen, she did retire completely from her position at the Central Bureau the following year, when she was eightyone. In answer to the frequent question whether it disturbs her to see others managing the office she ran for so long, 195

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she replies that she likes to go back to her f o r m e r w o r k r o o m " w h e r e the office f o r c e are my f r i e n d s , and, according to an ancient legend, visiting them is like hyacinths f o r my soul." T h e increased leisure of her later y e a r s gives J a n e time to enjoy the simple pleasures of her home, the flowers that E m m a W a l l a c e tends, the birds that come to be f e d , as well as the g r e a t e r opportunities f o r social intercourse. A l t h o u g h she says she does not know how to pursue the last g r a c e f u l l y over the telephone, " I am l e a r n i n g , " she adds, " t o exasperate other persons on a p a r t y line by real visiting." A n d then she remarks, " I n the cool of the evening I o f t e n w a l k in the garden and get the scent of the roses, most of them the g i f t s of R o b e r t P y l e and his sisters. T h e f r a g r a n c e of memories mingles with that of the roses." She withdrew f r o m the Finance C o m m i t t e e in 1 9 4 6 and f r o m the Representative Committee in 1 9 4 8 , retaining only membership on the Education Committee. T o it in 1 9 5 2 at the age of eighty-eight she accepted a new twoy e a r term. T h e end of this period will m a r k seventy y e a r s of J a n e R u s h m o r e ' s service under Q u a k e r appointment. M o r e o v e r , with most fields of her interest she is scarcely out of touch, f o r the now responsible leaders come, pilg r i m s to her door, to hear her clear j u d g m e n t and p r o g r e s sive ideas. N o r has she ceased being in demand to lead discussion and take speaking engagements, which keep her in touch with Friends in other M e e t i n g s . T o no one was it surprising that in 1 9 4 0 she w a s invited to g i v e an important lecture under the W i l l i a m J . C o o p e r F o u n d a t i o n at S w a r t h m o r e College, and that a f t e r w a r d s a member of the faculty wrote to her, " I have t a l k e d with numerous

196

JAM;

P. R T S I I M O R E , L I T T . D . ,

1952

T H E A C T I V E EIGHTIES

members of your audience, including students, and find that all of them are enthusiastic about the job you did." Jane was only seventy-six then. T e n years later she led a discussion at Westtown with a group in their upper teens, that critical, unforgiving period. T h e following year the same group invited her to be one of their teachers, but she felt that she could not meet a night engagement. " I only wish," remarked Katharine H . Paton, secretary of the Religious Education Committee, "that I might have the wonderful experience of realizing that young people of high school age would desire to hear from me when I am eighty-seven years old." It was not an isolated occurrence. She had a similar reaction from a similar group the next year. A book compiled from Jane's writings, The Quaker Way, had been studied by a class at Merion Meeting led by Samuel J . Bunting, J r . Then the whole thirteen boys and girls packed a supper and drove to Jane's house to spend a Sunday evening discussing the subject matter with her. "She is so alert," " S o modern," "She told us funny stories," "She didn't give us the answer; said we ought to think it out f o r ourselves," "Oh, yes, we want to talk with her again," were some of the eager comments afterward. F o r the 1 9 5 1 Y e a r l y Meeting J a n e was asked to open the consideration of " M i n i s t r y " on the first afternoon, the most serious session of the whole week when the religious strength of the Society is discussed. A f t e r she had pleaded f o r more spiritual depth, more knowledge of the Bible, she closed saying, " W e can rise to great heights only if we humbly ask G o d to help us, and then dedicate ourselves to helping H i m . " This day was a memorable introduction to the Y e a r l y Meeting. One attender said that, after many of those present had shared thoughts which the address inspired, a feeling of benediction pervaded the company,

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and in the closing silence the united desire seemed to be, " H e r e am I, L o r d . U s e m e . " J a n e R u s h m o r e ' s own spoken ministry is clear, thoughtf u l , and deeply religious. She enters upon no rhetorical flights, but stirs the conscience of listeners with modern applications of Biblical stories and truths. W h e n f a m i l i e s are struck down by g r i e f , her ministry at f u n e r a l s and her letters and messages h a v e o f t e n been especially c o m f o r t i n g and sustaining. A l t h o u g h she retains her membership in Philadelphia M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , the one next d o o r to her home has so greatly benefited by her attendance that in 1 9 4 5 a minute of gratitude w a s adopted f o r her " g r e a t contribution" to its "spiritual and intellectual l i f e . " A s a suitable means of expression J a n e w a s recorded as an h o n o r a r y member of W e s t f i e l d M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , the minute f u r t h e r stating " t h a t there should be no financial o r other obligation connected with the membership, and that it should constitute the M e e t i n g ' s sincere expression of affectionate appreciation of thy presence a m o n g u s . " I t is a gratification to J a n e that W e s t f i e l d is now a united M e e t i n g . M a n y of its members of O r t h o d o x origin were her g o o d friends b e f o r e the two c o n g r e g a t i o n s happily became one. A pointed conciseness has always c h a r a c t e r i z e d her. A F r i e n d sitting in Y e a r l y M e e t i n g o v e r h e a r d a whispered conversation behind her. " W h o w a s the last s p e a k e r ? " " J a n e R u s h m o r e . She says more in twenty-five w o r d s than o t h e r people do in twenty-five minutes." I t is not, actually, so much the compactness of her speech that rivets the attention of the audience as h e r ability to a n a l y z e and summarize the matter under consideration. She seldom takes part in the opening of a discussion. She listens as the various points are b r o u g h t out. W h e n all 198

T H E ACTIVE EIGHTIES

sides have been pretty thoroughly presented, J a n e ' s deep, s t r o n g voice, easily heard in every part of the house, speaks to the heart of the subject. A s an active participant in many of the most important explorations of the Y e a r l y M e e t i n g she has often given a decisive word which crystallized the sense of the meeting. She does not intend or desire to f o r m decisions. Rather, when the whole matter has been set forth, she sees quickly and acutely what others are g r o p i n g f o r . She tries to be moderate in her statements, and a touch of humor usually disarms her critics. She does not mind being disagreed with, and respects a worthy antagonist. She does not press her opinion if the weight of the meeting is against her. But it seldom is, so g r e a t is the trust of many Friends in her judgment. " I wish that I could speak with the same terse directness that you habitually use. I wish also that I could feel my opinions were as sound as I always feel that yours a r e , " said J o h n W . N a s o n when he was president of Swarthmore College. M o r e o v e r , there is no forecasting how she will react to new p r o p o s a l s . She may disapprove a novel plan as unsound or encourage another as venturing into something new. " W e need not be disturbed by experiments if they are made in g o o d faith and sincerity," she said recently. A n d again, " O u r fellowship is enriched by many types of experience and interpretation if they all represent a consecrated spirit and a humble reach f o r t r u t h . " * All who know her well have been aware of her deeprunning kindness, consideration, and understanding. She wants to help people, and in that simple statement lies much of her basic philosophy. Further, she gladly avows that if she has ever arrived anywhere, it is because of all the people who have helped her, beginning with the three * Messenger, Fifth month, 1948.

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big b o y s at P r e s t o n H o l l o w w h o m a d e p o s s i b l e the winn i n g of her first-grade t e a c h i n g certificate. A f u n d a m e n t a l r e s p e c t f o r p e r s o n s a n d f o r t h e i r sincere c o n v i c t i o n s is f o r h e r a n o t h e r f e a t u r e of e s s e n t i a l r e l i g i o n . " W e m u s t be t o l e r a n t of each o t h e r , " she says, " n o t w i t h a t o l e r a n c e which d o e s n o t c a r e , b u t w i t h t h e t o l e r a n c e t h a t c a r e s so much t h a t it w o u l d n o t w e a k e n o r d e s t r o y any belief t h a t r e a l l y h e l p s i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r s t o live closer t o G o d and r e v e r e n t l y f o l l o w t h e p r e c e p t s of J e s u s . " R e l a t e d t o this r e s p e c t f o r i n d i v i d u a l s is J a n e ' s belief in t h e ability of o r d i n a r y p e o p l e to a c h i e v e r e s u l t s . T h e lack of s t r i k i n g l e a d e r s h i p in t h e Society of F r i e n d s d o e s not distress her, w h o entirely ignores her own obvious place. She believes in t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e " l i t t l e p e o p l e . " She once w r o t e in t h e Messenger : W e h a v e d e v e l o p e d a v e r y f e w g r e a t Q u a k e r l e a d e r s . I t is t h e f a i t h f u l followers w h o with s t e a d f a s t p u r p o s e h a v e carried the torch which leaders had lighted, t h a t are carrying the Friends' message to s u c c e e d i n g g e n e r a t i o n s . O u r p r o g r e s s is slow a n d s o m e t i m e s h a l t i n g b e c a u s e so o f t e n s o m e of o u r m e m b e r s a r e c o n t e n t t o b e l e a n e r s r a t h e r t h a n l i f t e r s . " E v e r y g r e a t m a n is u n i q u e " b u t e v e r y c o m m o n m a n is a u n i t p o t e n t i a l l y a b l e t o d o his s h a r e of l i f t i n g . C a s t y o u r t h o u g h t s back over Christian history. H o w m a n y really inspiring leaders can you n a m e since N e w T e s t a m e n t d a y s ? Yet millions h a v e d o n e t h e i r b i t t o f o r w a r d t h e p r i n c i p l e s t a u g h t b y J e s u s . If a n y o n e w h o r e a d s t h i s l i t t l e s h e e t is j u s t a l e a n e r , w o n t y o u t r y t o see h o w m u c h z e s t a n d i n t e r e s t it a d d s t o life t o s t e p u p a n d o f f e r y o u r s t r e n g t h as a l i f t e r ? *

L i f t e r J a n e R u s h m o r e has always been, but also somet h i n g m o r e . T h r o u g h f o u r d e c a d e s she h a s b e e n f o r t h e Society of F r i e n d s a s t e e r s m a n . H e r clear eyes h a v e l o o k e d into the f u t u r e and helped to determine the course. Always f o r h e r t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g h a s been t h e d i r e c t i o n t h e * Messenger,

Eleventh m o n t h , 1948.

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Quaker bark is taking, not who is at the helm. In her opinion neither as a pilot nor as a passenger does she deserve any special attention. Nevertheless, she was selected f o r public recognition when in June 1 9 5 2 Swarthmore College chose her as a recipient f o r an honorary degree. On a beautiful sunny morning she sat robed in cap and gown on the stage of the outdoor auditorium. F o r the last event of the program, which included the conferring of two other honorary degrees, she was called f o r w a r d and presented by Joseph B. Shane, vice-president of the college. Then President Nason, addressing her and turning to the use of the "plain language" with unexpectedly moving effect, said: J a n e Palen Rushmore, as teacher, minister, and writer, thee has devoted t h y life to the service of G o d and of t h y fellow men through the Society of Friends. Staunch in the defense of ancient Quaker principles, honest and courageous in recognizing the new demands of a changing world, old in wisdom and young in spirit, t h y voice has been one of the guiding lights during this century of the R a c e Street Y e a r l y Meeting. In grateful appreciation of t h y many services to the Society, I confer upon thee . . . the degree of Doctor of Letters, and admit thee to all the rights and privileges pertaining to that degree.

T h e laurel of formal academic recognition, by her friends felt to be a happy and amply deserved encomium, sits lightly on J a n e ' s brow. H e r attention is upon the Society of Friends and its f o r w a r d movement. She is still an influential N e s t o r in its progress. On the rare occasions when she does look back over its last two-thirds of a century, she might well appropriate the words of A e n e a s : " T h e s e things I myself saw, and a great part of them I was."

201

Index Abington Meeting, 117 Abraham, Emma, 98 Acton, Elizabeth, 12 Acton, Sarah, 12 Addams, Jane, 87 Advancement of Friends Principles, Committee on, 28, 75, 76, 79, 80, 83, 84, 97, 99, 104, 106 American Friends Fellowship Council, XV, 87, 105, 164, 170, 181, 185 American Friends Service Committee, XV, 52, 56, 82, 87, 115, 133, 134, 135, 163, 164, 173, 180, 181, 185, 188, 190 Appleton, William Hyde, 19 Arch Street Meeting House, 175 Arch Street Yearly Meeting, xiii, 80, 82, 94, 95, 118, 133, 136, 137, 148, 180, 183, 186, 189, 194 Asbury Park (N. J . ) Conference, 91, 94 Ashworth, John, 95 Atkinson, James H., 107, 113 Baldwin, Bird T., 81 Baltimore Friends School, 67 Baltimore Yearly Meeting, 69, 71, 85, 87, 88, 89, 131, 147, 155, 183 Bancroft, Emma C„ 81, 155 Bancroft, William P., 155 Bartlett, J . Henry, 147, 183 Barton, George Α., 78, 94 Bartram, Anna W., 41, 44

Bartram, Frank M., 41, 107 Bartram, Mary S., 41 Bartram, Thomas Chalkley, 41 Battin, Benjamin F., 107, 108, 116 Beardsley, Arthur, 19 Benson, Robert, 54 Biddle, Clement M., 42 Biddle, Clement M. (Jr.), 121 Biddle, William C., 77, 99 Birdsall, William W., 72 Boarding Home Committees, 168 Bogardus, Joseph Α., 27, 72 Bond, Elizabeth Powell, 27 Bonnell, Henry H., 64 Book of Discipline, see Discipline, Book of Book of Meetings, 115, 162 Boston Society for Home Study, 23 Boughton, Alice, 64 Brinton, Anna Cox, 82 Brinton, Howard H., 82, 141 Brooklyn (Ν. Y.) First-day School, 28 Brooklyn (Ν. Y.) Friends School, 28 Brosius, Augustus, 75 Brumbaugh, Martin G., 65 Bryn Mawr College, 25, 94 Buck Hill Falls, xiv, 49-60, 78, 79, 195 Budget Committee, 138, 169 Bunting, Morgan, 50 Bunting, Samuel J . , Jr., 197 Burdsall, Ellwood, 87 Business Problems Group, 180

203

INDEX Cadbury, Hannah, 179 Cadbury, Dr. William W., 64 Calendar, The, 114, 162 Cain Quarterly Meeting, 183 Cambridge (Mass.) \ l o n t h l y Meeting, 85 Camden (Del.) Meeting, 116 Camp Ill-Ind-O, 87 Camp Keewadin, 78 Canadian Friends' Service Committee, 86 Cape M a y (N. J.) Conferences, 91, 99, 100 Carter, Arabella, 180 Central Committee, Friends General Conference, 74, 75, 97, 98, 99, 106, 127, 187 Chambers, Frances C a n b y , 154 Chapman, M a r i a n n a , 25 Chappaqua (N. Y . ) Conference, 70 C h a u t a u q u a (N. Y . ) Conferences, 91, 94, 98 Cherry Street M e e t i n g House, 110, 111, 116, 118, 158, 171 Chestnut Hill United M o n t h l y Meeting, 183 Civilian Public Service, 163 Clear Creek (111.) Meeting, 86 Clothier, Isaac H., I l l Coale, Edward, 72 Coale, Elizabeth, 80 Coale, S. Robinson, 50, 54 Cocks, William H , 180 Coles, William C., 107 Columbia Exposition, 70 Comly, E m m a R., 131 Comly, Emma R., Fund, 169, 171 Comly, Seth, 171

Conferences, biennial, of Friends General Conference: Asbury Park, 91, 94 Cape M a y , 91, 99, 100 C h a u t a u q u a , 91, 94, 98 Mountain L a k e Park, 91, 95 Ocean C i t y , 91, 93, 100 Ocean Grove, 91, 92 Richmond, 91, 92, 99 Saratoga Springs, 91, 99, 100 Toronto, Canada, 91, 95 Winona Lake, 91, 96, 179 Cooper, Lucy Smyth, 154 Cornell, Edward, 28, 77, 87 Cornell, Esther Haviland, 28 Cornell, John J., 11, 85 Coulter Street Meeting, 182 Courier, The, 122, 143, 146, 162 Cunningham, Susan J., 19 Discipline, Book o f , 155, 156, 159, 161,176,179, 182,190 Discipline Committee, 138 Doane, M a r c i a , 104 Doane, Wilson M . , 104 Dorsey, W i l l i a m M „ 101-102 Drake, Israel, 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 35 Drake, J a n e Palen, 6, 7, 15 Drake, M a r y , xvi, 16 Drake, Sarah Palen, see Rushmore, Sarah Drake Early, Blanche, 195 Early Impressions, 102 Economic Problems, Committee on, Friends General Conference, 76 Education Committee, Friends General Conference, 74, 75, 76, 106

204

INDEX

Education Committee, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 35, 42, 107, 111, 122, 139-142, 147, 155, 180, 196 Education Conference, 72 Edwards, Earle, 105 Elkinton, Anna Griscom, 118 Elwyn School, 18 Emergency Peace Committee, 133 Epistle Committee, New York Yearly Meeting, 26 Exercise Committee, 151 Extracts, 115 Fairfax (Va.) Quarterly Meeting, 89 Fellowship of Reconciliation, 82 Female Association of Philadelphia, 115 Fenn, William Wallace, 78-79 Ferris, Henry, 103 Finance Committee, 138, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 196 First-day School Bulletin, 77, 121, 128-132, 162 F i r s t - d a y School C o m m i t t e e , Friends General Conference, 74, 75, 76, 77, 83, 97, 106, 107, 112, 123 F i r s t - d a y School C o m m i t t e e , Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 40, 107, 127, 131, 132, 148, 180, 197 First-day School Conference, 68, 69, 71, 88 First-day school lesson leaves, 127, 128 First-day School Union, 67 Five Years Meeting, 74, 81, 82, 94, 147, 180, 186 Flitcraft, Clement and Louella, 87

Flitcraft, Sarah B., 153 Florida Avenue (D.C.) .Meeting, 89 Forbush, Bliss, 78, 88, 104, 188 Forbush, LaVerne, 88 Foulke, Eliza Ambler, 117, 190 Foulke, Thomas, 11 Foulke, Thomas Α., 118, 184, 190 Founding a Home, 122, 162 Foxhowe Association, 51 Friends Almanac, 114 Friends Central Bureau, xiii, 66, 97, 106, 107-125, 127, 131, 136, 137, 148, 152, 162, 171, 186, 195 Friends' Central School, 48, 49, 65, 109, 110, 155, 168 Friends Charity Fuel Association, 115 Friends Committee on National Legislation, 76, 164, 181, 185 Friends Council on Education, 147 Friends Fellowship Council, see American Friends Fellowship Council Friends General Conference, xiv, 28, 66, 68-106, 112, 114, 121, 122, 127, 131, 135, 147, 149, 153, 171, 178, 180, 181, 187. 188 Friends Here and There, 87 Friends Historical Association, 56 Friends Historical Library, 121 Friends Intelligencer, xv, 49, 56, 97, 101-103, 171, 179 Friends Intelligencer Associates, 103 Friends Neighborhood Guild, 168, 173 Friends Social Union, 179 Friends Year Book, 114

205

INDEX G a r d i n e r , Sunderland P., 26, 85 G a r r e t t , Alfred C., 186 Garrigues, Matilda, 150 G a t e s , T h o m a s S., 62, 63 G a w t h r o p , Henry, 59 General Meeting, Philadelphia, XV, 123, 185, 189, 190 General N o m i n a t i n g Committee, 138, 154, 155, 160 Genesee Yearly Meeting, 26, 27, 71, 85, 86, 155 George, J o h n M . , 144 George School, xiv, 34, 42, 53, 54, 141, 144-146, 153, 168 George School Committee, 34, 53 G r a h a m , J o h n William, 72, 94, 95, 98, 178 Green, Samuel S., 19 Green Street First-day School, 67 Green Street M o n t h l y Meeting, 56 Greenwich (N. J.) Meeting, 116 Gregg, Richard, 82 Griscom, H a n n a h , 7 Griscom, D r . John, 101 Griscom, Samuel E., 49 Griscom, Sarah, 151, 152 Griscom, William Wade, 144 Griscom Hall, 58, 59

Hawkins, H a r r y Α., 28 H a y d o c k , H a n n a h W., 25 Hicks, Elias, 7, 8, 9, 28 Hicks, Philip M . , 47 Higher Life, The, 122, 162 Hillborn, Rachel W , 102, 103 Hodgkin, H e n r y T., 82 Hodgkin, D r . T h o m a s , 98 Hollingshead, Ellwood, 108 Holmes, Jesse H., 40, 79, 80, 83, 124, 134, 145, 180 Hoover, H e r b e r t , 89 H u b b e n , William, 103 Hughes, J o h n , 82 Hull, H a n n a h Clothier, 81, 135, 154, 193 Hull, William I., 81, 135 Hutchinson, J o h n W., 27, 72 Hymnal, 77, 122

Haines, E. Vesta, 100 Hall, Lydia H., 102, 103, 121 Hallowell, Benjamin F., 45 Hallowell, Marguerite, 122 Hallowell, Morris L., 102 Hartwell, Rose, 16 H a r v e y , Cyrus W., 96, 97, 179 H a r v e y , Emily Β. and J o h n S. C., 173 Harwell, Alice T., 195 H a v e r f o r d College, 47, 56, 80, 182

Jackson, Anna M., 27, 72 Jackson, A r t h u r C., 88, 104 Jackson, Caroline S., 152, 153 Jackson, J o h n , 7 Jackson, Rachel, 7 Jackson, William M., 27, 71 J a n n e y , Anna C a n b y , 154 J a n n e y , D r . O. E d w a r d , 72, 81, 88, 92, 104 J a n n e y , Robert M., 72 J a n n e y , Susan W., 107, 111

I Street (D. C.) Meeting, 89 Illinois Yearlv Meeting, 68, 69, 70-71, 80, 84, 85, 86, 87, 96, 155. 183 Indiana Yearly Meeting, 71, 85, 86, 87, 155 Irving Street (D. C.) Meeting, 89 Irwin, Anna Rushmore, 13, 195 Irwin, George, 13

INDEX

Jeanes, Anna T., 139-141, 166, 167, 168 Jeanes, Joseph, Fund, 166 Jeanes, Mary, Fund, 141, 166 Jeanes, Samuel, Fund for education, 140, 141, 160, 166 Jeanes, Samuel, Fund for meeting houses, 166, 169 Jeanes Hospital, 168 Jenkins, Beatrice, 87 Jenkins, Charles F., 49, 53, 55-57, 60, 103, 163, 170, 178, 179, 184, 193 Jenkins, Howard M., 49, 50, 57, 70, 103, 179 Jenkins, Marie C., 52, 163 Jenkins, Thomas Α., 86-87 Johnson, Howard Cooper, 169,172 Johnson, Jane, 102 Jones, Esther Holmes, 76 Jones, Mary Hobson, 137 Jones, Rufus M „ 95, 178,180, 193 Journal, The, 103 Kansas Yearly Meeting, 96 Kennett Monthly Meeting, 45 Knight, Rachel, 117 Laing School, 27 Lamb, Eli M., 67, 68, 88 Leidy, Dr. Joseph, 20 Lewis, Lucy Biddle, 135, 154, 180 Lincoln (Va.) Conference, 70 Lippincott, Mary, 82 Littleboy, Edith Winder, 86 Livezey, Mary R., 153 Lloyd, Elizabeth, 153 London Grove First-day School, 34 London Grove Friends School, 28, 31, 32, 139, 150

London Grove Meeting, 31, 34, 39, 41, 48 London Grove Young Friends Association, 39 London (Eng.) Yearly Meeting, 72, 94, 95, 98, 99, 175, 178, 189 Longstreth, Helen G., 102 Magill, Edward H„ 19, 45, 70, 71, 72 Maris, George L., 145 Marot, Charles, 7, 20 Marot, Hannah Griscom, 20 Martin, Edward, 20 Martin, Samuel, 45 Martin Academy, 45, 46, 48 Matthews, Sarah W., 72 Meeting for Sufferings, 95, 96, 159 Mendelson, Dr. Walter, 62 Merion Meeting, 197 Messenger, The, 122, 162, 200 Miller, Richmond P., 122, 137, 162, 193 Mills, Albert T., 86 Mills, Clarence C., 86 Millville Meeting, 116 Ministry and Counsel, Committee on, 156, 161, 186 Mooney, Belle, 42 Moore, Alfred, 124, 154, 167 Moore, Esther T., 20 Moore, Frederick P., 20 Moore, George H., 20 Moore, Harriet J., 102 Moore, Joseph T., Jr., 20 Moore, Mary L., 20 Moore, R. Roland, 20 Moore, Thomas L., 20 Morgan, S. Rowland, 65 Morris, Anna Wharton, 136

207

INDEX M o t t , L u c r e t i a , 22 M o t t , J a m e s , 22 M o u n t a i n Lake Park (Md.) C o n f e r e n c e , 91, 95 M u r r a y , A u g u s t u s T . , 89 N a s o n , J o h n \ V „ 199, 201 N a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e , 76 N e w E n g l a n d Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , 85, 95, 183 N e w Y o r k Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , 10, 25, 27, 28, 71, 85, 87, 93, 96, 131, 147, 153, 155, 183 N o r m e n t , C a r o l i n e G., 82 N u t t , G e o r g e H . , 145 O a k f o r d , Elsie, 100 Ocean Citv (Ν. J.) Conferences, 91, 93', 100 Ocean Grove (Ν. J.) Conference, 91, 92 O h i o Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , 69, 84 O r a n g e G r o v e (Calif.) M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , 85, 116 O s w e g o School of L a n g u a g e s , 65 O v e r s e e r s , C o m m i t t e e of, 161 P a i s t e , H e n r y T . , 49 P a n c o a s t , C h a r l e s E., 63 P a r r i s h , D i l l w y n , 11, 101 P a r r i s h , E d w a r d , 12, 101 P a r r i s h , I s a a c , 101 P a r r i s h , M a x f i e l d , 20 P a r r i s h , S u s a n , 12 P a r r i s h , S u s a n n a M . , 102 P a t o n , K a t h a r i n e H . , 197 P a x s o n , Alice H a l l , 122 Peace Committee, Friends General C o n f e r e n c e , 76 Peace Committee, Philadelphia Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , 134, 135

P e n d l e Hill, 78, 80, 82, 170, 173,

181 P e n n , W i l l i a m , 186 P e n n o c k , C h a r l e s J . , 46 P e p l e r , D o u g l a s , 95 P h i l a d e l p h i a C o n f e r e n c e , 68 Philadelphia General Meeting, XV, 123, 185, 189, 190 Philadelphia M o n t h l y Meeting, 118, 121, 123, 198 Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, 121, 123 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Arch S t r e e t , xiii, 80, 82, 94, 95, 118, 133, 136, 137, 148, 180, 183, 186, 189, 194 P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , R a ce S t r e e t , xiii, xvi, 1 2 , 2 9 , 67, 70, 74, 85, 87, 96, 97, 105, 106, 108-125, 1 3 1 - 1 4 8 , 1 5 0 - 1 5 8 , 1 5 9 - 1 7 4 . 181, 183-190, 194, 197, 198, 199, 201 Philanthropic Committee, Friends G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e , 74, 75, 97, 106 Philanthropic Committee, Philad e l p h i a Y e a r l v M e e t i n g , 107, 1 3 3 - 1 3 7 , 148," 164, 165 Philanthropic Labor, Committee on, 69 P i c k e t t , C l a r e n c e E . a n d Lilly P . , 52 Pierce, E d w i n , 96 Plan for Reuniting the Two Philadelphia Yearly Meeting!, 184 P l u m m e r , J o n a t h a n W . , 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 86 P o c o n o M a n o r , 57 Poley, I r v i n C. a n d R u t h V., 193 P o t o m a c Q u a r t e r l y M e e t i n g , 89 Powell, A a r o n M . , 27, 72

INDEX

Preston Hollow (\T. Y.) Public School, 24 Price, Ellen Η. E., 107, 111 Purdy, Alexander C., 52 Pyle, Hannah Cadbury, 179 Pyle, Robert, 33, 37, 107, 108, 179, 196 Pyle, Robert L., 32, 35, 40, 53, 144 Quaker, The, 104 Quaker Way, The, 197 Race Relations, Committee on, 135, 136 Race Street Meeting House, 109111, 158 Race Street Yearly Meeting, xiii, xvi, 12, 29, 67, 70, 74, 85. 87, 96, 97, 105, 106, 108-125, 131-148, 150-158, 159-174, 181, 183-190, 194, 197, 198, 199, 201 Randolph, Isabel F., 142 Religious Conference, 70, 73 Religious Education Bulletin, see First-day School Bulletin Religious Education Committee, Friends General Conference, see First-day School Committee Religious Education Committee, Philadelphia, see First-day School Committee, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Rensselaerville (N. Y.) Monthly Meeting, 4 Representative Committee, 98, 106, 111, 114, 122, 137, 154, 156, 159-174, 186, 196 Representative Meeting, Arch Street, 163

Richie, David S., 137-138 Richmond, Mary E., 62 Richmond (Ind.) Conferences, 73, 91, 92, 99 Roberts, Abby Mary Hall, 122 Roberts, Emmor, 140 Roberts, Isaac, 117 Roberts, Louisa J., 102 Roberts, Robert, 77 Roberts, Susan, 102 Robinson, Frances M., 86 Robinson, Louis N., 136 Rowntree, John Wilhelm, 94 Rushmore, Anna C., 2, 13, 195 Rushmore, Charles F., 2,13,15,17 Rushmore, Edward Cary, 2, 13, 15, 16, 17 Rushmore, John Underhill, 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 47 Rushmore, Mary D., 2, 13, 195 Rushmore, Sarah Drake, 1, 7, 8, 15, 47 Russell, Elbert, 81, 82, 186 Russell, Jane, 25 Salem (Ohio) Conference, 69 Sanford, Maria L., 18, 19 Saratoga Springs (N. Y.) Conference, 91, 99, 100 Scarlett, George B., 45 Scattered Seeds, 102, 121, 122 Schofield, Martha, 60 School House Lane Meeting, 182 Schuylkill Meeting, 116 Seaman, Robert, 99, 100 Shane, Joseph B., 201 Sharon Female Seminary, 7 Sharpies, Alfred D., 144 Sharpless, Isaac, 178 Sharpless, William P., 102 Silcock, Harry T., 98

209

INDEX S i m k i n , R o b e r t L , 99 S m i t h , E s t h e r M o r t o n , 63 Social O r d e r C o m m i t t e e , F r i e n d s G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e , 76 Social O r d e r C o m m i t t e e , P h i l a delphia Y e a r l v M e e t i n e , 137,

180 Social Seryice C o m m i t t e e , 137, 138 S p e a k m a n , D r . W illiam W . , 49, 55 Spicer, R. B a r c l a y , 103 S t a b l e r , C h a r l e s M . , 117 S t a b l e r , I d a P a l m e r , 142 S t a n t o n , E l i z a b e t h C a d y , 22 S t a p e l e v F a r m F u n d , 168 S t a r r , T h e o d o r e , 61 S t a r r C e n t e r , 6 1 - 6 5 , 105, 109, 127 S t e r n , Leon T . , 136 Stirling, A n n e Biddle, 135 S t o y e r , E l i z a b e t h , 28 S t r a w b r i d g e a n d C l o t h i e r , 172 S t r e e t e r , H a r r i s o n , 154 S t u b b s , D e b o r a h F., xvi, 34, 36, 144, 145, 146 S t u b b s , D r . J o s e p h H . , 34, 45, 145 S u m m e r Schools, 78, 79, 80, 87, 95 S w a r t h m o o r H a l l , 98 S w a r t h m o r e College, 12, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 43, 47, 56, 70, 72, 87, 101, 121, 134, 135, 155, 181, 196, 199, 201 S w a r t h m o r e C o n f e r e n c e , 72, 93 S w a r t h m o r e F r i e n d s M e e t i n g , 23 S w a y n e , A m e l i a W . , 131, 133 S w a y n e , D a v i d and E m m a l i n e , 33

T e a c h e r - t r a i n i n g Class, 42 T e a c h e r s College, C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y , 46 T e m p e r a n c e C o m m i t t e e , 136

Testimonies and Practice of the Society of Friends, 128 T h o m a s , Elsie W . , 195 T h o m a s , H o w a r d , 47 T h o m a s , D r . J o s e p h , 20 T h o m p s o n , C h a r l e s N\, 53, 58 T h o r n e , P h o e b e A n n a , 25 T i l t o n , J o s e p h i n e , 28 T o k y o ( J a p a n ) M e e t i n g , 190 Toronto (Canada) Conference. 91. 95 T o w n s e n d , A n n a Α.. 102 T o w n s e n d , A n n e P . , 141 T r u s t e e s of P h i l a d e l p h i a Y e a r l y M e e t i n g , 118, 154, 167, 168, 169, 172 U n d e r h i l l , C h a r l e s F., 93 U n i o n for P h i l a n t h r o p i c L a b o r , 69, 73 U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a , 20, 21, 47, 50, 56, 62, 65 W a g n e r I n s t i t u t e , 65 W a l l a c e , E m m a B a r n e s , xv, 42, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 65, 100, 142, 195, 196 W a l t o n , G e o r g e Α., 104, 146, 153 W a l t o n . J . B a r n a r d , 84, 105, 180 W a l t o n , J o s e p h S., 36, 50, 58, 65, 79, 80, 145 W a l t o n , M a r g a r e t t a , 11, 28, 150, 151 W a y n e s v i l l e (Ohio) C o n f e r e n c e , 69 W e b s t e r , E d m u n d , 140, 155 Westfield ( N . J.) M o n t h l y M e e t i n g , 198 W h a r t o n , D e b o r a h Fisher, 12, 22, 2 8 - 2 9 , 102 W h a r t o n , J o s e p h . 50

2 IO

INDEX Wharton, Susan P., 50, 51, 59-65, 109 Whitman, Eleanor Wood, 146 Whitney, Charles Α., 86 Whitson, M a r y H., 107, 108 Whittier Hotel, 111, 166, 193 Wider Quaker Fellowship, 181 Wilbur, Henry W „ 27, 74, 75, 79, 80, 83, 84, 99, 105, 107 Willets, Samuel, 87 Williams, Henry S., 179 Wilmington (Del.) Friends School, 42, 155 Wilson, Isaac, 27, 79, 85 Winder, Edith, 86 Winona Lake (Ind.) Conference, 91, 96, 179 Women's International League, 135 Women's Problems Group, 180 Wood, Herbert G., 95 Wood, John H., 174 Wood, Richard R , 134, 194 Woodbrooke School, 82 Woodbury (N. J . ) Friends School, 7

Woodward, Dr. George, 63 Woolman School, 80, 81, 82, 83, 104 World Committee for Consultation, XV, 115, 181, 182, 185 World Conference of Friends, 181 World Council of Churches, 1 8 6 - 1 8 9 World Parliament of Religions, 70 Worth, Herbert P., 107, 109, 116 Wright, Phoebe C., 25

Y e a t m a n , Lavinia, 28 Yellow Springs (Ohio) Meeting, 87 Yerkes, Sue C., 103 Young Friends Association, Philadelphia, 7 1 , 1 0 9 , 111, 166, 167 Young Friends Committee (London), 98 Young Friends Movement, xv, 117, 179

Zavitz, Charles, 86

DESIGNED b y GUENTHER K .

WEHRHAN

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